Durga Puja 2024: Dates for Ashtami and Navami, puja timings, rituals and key details

Durga Puja significance

Durga Puja, considered one of the most sacred festivals of Hindus, celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. It also honours the strength of the divine feminine, as Goddess Durga stands for tenacity when subjected to moral injustice. As the festival continues, it marks the beginning of the celebratory period leading up to Diwali, promoting family togetherness and embracing the principles of love, resilience, and unity.

Although Durga Puja is a 10 day festival, the last five days, which include Ashtami, are regarded as the most sacred of days as it goes into Navami, which is the final day of the festival.

In 2024, Durga Puja starts on October 3 with Ashtami on October 11, followed by Navami on October 12. The festivities lasting five days will end on Sunday, October 13th.

Durga Puja 2024: Ashtami timings and rituals

As per the Gupta Press annual calendar, the pushpanjali ceremony is scheduled on October 11 morning from 5:45 AM - 6:00 AM. As per the Bisuddha Siddhanta calendar, the puja time for pushpanjali will be from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Kumari Puja, which is an integral ritual of Ashtami involves worshipping young girls, aged 8-12 as incarnations of Goddess Durga, will also be conducted on Ashtami.

108 lotuses, 108 diyas ritual

The ceremony known as 'Sandhi Puja' will begin at 11:30 AM, signalling the start of Mahanavami. It is believed to be the exact moment when Mahishasura was killed. It will involve offering of 108 lotuses and 108 earthen lamps along with recitations seeking blessings.

Durga Puja 2024: Mahanavami

Mahanavami marks the end of Goddess Durga’s nine-day fight with the demon Mahishsur and this time it will last for a day and a half, starting in the afternoon of October 11 and continuing through the entire day of October 12.

Vijaya Dashami

Vijaya Dashami, also known by the name of Dussehera, marks the end of the Durga Puja festivities. On this special day, it is believed that Goddess Durga returns to her abode, bidding farewell to all her devotees. This is one of the key components of the festival. The idol is submerged in a river or lake during a ceremony known as ‘Visarjan’. Prior to the ritual bathing, married women participate in Sindoor Khela by applying red powder on each other, representing the goddess's happiness in marriage and seeking blessings.