Masik Durga Ashtami, also called Durgashtami, is a monthly fasting day observed by Shakta devotees and families on the eighth tithi (Ashtami) of the waxing fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of every lunar month. It serves as a recurring opportunity to invoke divine protection, courage, and moral rectitude from Goddess Durga.
The day commemorates the victory of divine feminine energy over malevolent obstacles and internal afflictions. Devotees observe a partial fast, consuming only fruits and milk products, while reciting sacred hymns such as the Durga Chalisa and selected passages from the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati).
Special evening pujas feature the offering of red hibiscus flowers, vermilion (sindoor), lit lamps, and incense to the goddess. The Masik Durga Ashtami falling during the month of Ashwina is celebrated with unmatched grandeur as Maha Ashtami during the annual Durga Puja.