Durga Ashtami is the eighth day of Navaratri, in the Tamil month of Purattasi. In Tamil Nadu the nine nights are the season of the golu: dolls of gods, saints, weddings and village life arranged on an odd number of steps, in front of which women and children visit one another each evening, sing, and are given sundal. The first three nights are for Durga, the next three for Lakshmi, the last three for Saraswati.
The story
The goddess fought the buffalo demon Mahishasura for nine nights. The golu is said to show the whole of creation standing still, lending its strength to her while she fights; the dolls are not moved until the tenth day.
Many of the dolls are heirlooms, added to at each wedding in the family. The marapachi, a pair of red sandalwood dolls dressed as bride and groom, is given to a daughter when she marries, and starts her own collection.
How the nine nights go
- Setting up the goluOn the new-moon day, on three, five, seven or nine steps, with the kalasam at the top.
- SundalA different pulse each evening, tempered with coconut and mustard.
- Vettrilai paakkuVisitors are given betel, turmeric, kumkum, a comb, a mirror and a small gift.
- SongsEvery guest is asked to sing, and no one is let off.
- Durga pujaOn Ashtami, lemon garlands and red flowers are offered at Durga and Amman shrines, especially at Rahu Kalam.
Why this date
Durga Ashtami is the Ashtami of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvina, on the day it is present at sunrise. It falls in Purattasi.
Durga Ashtami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday | |
| 2026 | Monday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Friday |
More Tamil festivals
20 OctoberSaraswati Puja and Ayudha Pujaசரஸ்வதி பூஜை · ஆயுத பூஜை
20 OctoberVijayadashamiவிஜயதசமி
8 NovemberDeepavaliதீபாவளி
14 SeptemberVinayagar Chaturthiவிநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி
4 SeptemberGokulashtamiகோகுலாஷ்டமி
28 AugustVaralakshmi Vratamவரலட்சுமி விரதம்
Where to see Durga Ashtami
In Tamil Nadu
- Meenakshi Temple, MaduraiTamil NaduThe goddess is dressed in a different form each evening, and the temple sets up its own vast golu.
- KulasekarapattinamTamil NaduThe Mutharamman temple's Dasara: lakhs come in costume as gods, kings and beggars to fulfil vows.
- Mylapore, ChennaiTamil NaduThe streets round the tank become a market of clay dolls for a month.
- PatteeswaramTamil NaduA much-visited shrine of Durga near Kumbakonam.
Across India
- KolkataWest BengalAshtami of Durga Puja, with Sandhi Puja at the turn of the tithi.
- VijayawadaAndhra PradeshKanaka Durga on her hill above the Krishna.
- MysuruKarnatakaThe palace lit every night of Dasara.