Durga Ashtami in Ayodhya

Date and timing in this city

In Ayodhya, Durga Ashtami falls on Ashwin Shukla Ashtami, the eighth tithi of the waxing fortnight of Ashwin. For 2026, the date computed for Ayodhya is Monday 19 October 2026. For 2027, it is Thursday 7 October 2027.

Ayodhya observes India Standard Time (Asia/Kolkata). The tithi is reckoned from the city's own sunrise, so the Ashtami date shown here is the one that applies to Ayodhya specifically, not a single all-India date.

Why the date can differ from India

Festival dates in jyotish are not fixed on a civil calendar. They follow the tithi, which is a lunar day measured by the changing distance between the Moon and the Sun. Because that distance shifts continuously, a tithi can begin and end at different clock times in different places.

When a tithi spans sunrise differently in one city than another, the observance can fall on a different calendar day. Ayodhya's date is therefore worked out for Ayodhya's own sunrise, and it may differ by a day from dates used elsewhere in India. This is normal and expected across regions.

Tradition also varies in how the lunar month is counted. Some communities follow the amanta reckoning and others the purnimanta; Smarta and Vaishnava practice can differ as well. These are long-standing regional conventions rather than errors. For personal observance, many readers consult a qualified jyotishi or their family's traditional panchang.

Where and how the community celebrates

Durga Ashtami is observed across India, and with particular prominence in East India. The day belongs to Durga, and two observances are commonly associated with it: Kanya puja and Sandhi puja.

Kanya puja honours young girls as living forms of the Goddess, with offerings and respect offered in the home or at a gathering. Sandhi puja marks the junction, the meeting point of the eighth and ninth tithi, and is held with lamps and recitation in many traditions.

In Ayodhya, households and neighbourhood groups follow their own family customs. The brief does not list specific venues, temples or organisers here, so this page describes the general shape of the observance rather than any particular event. Readers in the city will find that practice varies from home to home and from one community to another.

Practical tips

• Note the Ayodhya date for your year: Monday 19 October 2026 or Thursday 7 October 2027.
• Plan around Ayodhya sunrise, since the tithi is reckoned from it.
• If your family follows a different regional convention, follow that; traditions differ and both are valid.
• For vrat, puja or personal chart questions, consult a qualified jyotishi.

This page states dates and observances only. It makes no promises about outcomes and offers no medical, legal or financial guidance.