AstrologgerMasik Durgashtami in March 2026
When is Masik Durgashtami in March 2026? Thursday, 26 March — tithi 25 Mar 1:50 PM to 26 Mar 11:49 AM (New Delhi).
| Date | Tithi Begins | Tithi Ends | Name | Day | Paksha / Month (purnimanta) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Mar 2026 | 25 Mar, 1:50 PM | 26 Mar, 11:49 AM | Masik Durgashtami (Chaitra) | Thu | Shukla · Chaitra |
All dates & times computed for New Delhi (IST) with the Swiss Ephemeris + Lahiri ayanamsa — not copied.
Masik Durgashtami timings in March 2026
When each tithi begins, when it ends, and how long it actually runs — computed for Delhi (IST).
| Date | Tithi begins | Tithi ends | Duration | Day | Paksha | Lunar month (purnimanta) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Mar | 25 Mar, 1:50 PM | 26 Mar, 11:49 AM | 21 hours 59 minutes | Thursday | Shukla | Chaitra |
Each Masik Durgashtami this month
Masik Durgashtami (Chaitra) — Thursday 26 Mar, in the Shukla paksha of Chaitra (purnimanta). The tithi runs 21 hours 59 minutes, from 25 Mar 1:50 PM.
How March compares
Across 2026, a Masik Durgashtami tithi averages 24 hours 13 minutes. In March it averages 21 hours 59 minutes — shorter than the year's average.
Over the year the figure ranges from 21 hours 50 minutes in February to 26 hours 26 minutes in September. The spread exists because the Moon does not move at a constant rate, so a tithi is not a fixed length — which is why the vrat date shifts against the English calendar from month to month.
There are 12 Masik Durgashtamis in 2026, of which 1 falls in March.
Every other vrat in March 2026
The other observances falling in the same month, in calendar order.
| Vrat | Dates | Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Pradosh Vrat | 1 Mar — Ravi Pradosh · 16 Mar — Som Pradosh · 30 Mar — Som Pradosh | View |
| Purnima | 3 Mar — Phalguna Purnima | View |
| Sankashti Chaturthi | 6 Mar — Bhalachandra Sankashti | View |
| Kalashtami | 11 Mar — Kalashtami (Chaitra) | View |
| Ekadashi | 15 Mar — Papmochani Ekadashi · 29 Mar — Kamada Ekadashi | View |
| Masik Shivratri | 17 Mar — Masik Shivratri (Chaitra) | View |
| Amavasya | 19 Mar — Chaitra Amavasya | View |
| Vinayaka Chaturthi | 22 Mar — Vinayaka Chaturthi (Chaitra) | View |
| Masik Karthigai | 23 Mar — Masik Karthigai (Chaitra) | View |
| Skanda Sashti | 24 Mar — Skanda Sashti (Chaitra) | View |
What is Masik Durgashtami?
Masik Durgashtami honours the Goddess on the eighth tithi of the waxing fortnight each month. The Ashtami is the tithi of Shakti at her fullest before Purnima, and devotees keep it with fasting, Durga path and lamps, praying for protection and strength.
Monthly vrat and the annual Maha Ashtami
The monthly observance builds toward the great Durga Ashtami of Sharad Navratri, when Mahishasura-mardini is worshipped with sandhi puja at the junction of Ashtami and Navami. Keeping the monthly Ashtami is regarded as sustaining that devotion year-round.
How to observe the vrat
The day begins with a bath in the early morning and a sankalp to keep the fast. The altar is prepared with an image of Durga, and a red cloth is offered. Worship follows the ordinary sequence — lamp and incense, then flowers, kumkum and sindoor — with the recitation of the Durga Chalisa, the Durga Ashtottara, or simple mantras according to what the household keeps. Offerings commonly include kheer, halwa, fruit, coconut and panchamrit. In many homes girls are fed and given gifts as kanya puja, following the Navratri custom in miniature.
What is eaten and what is set aside
Those keeping the fast take fruit, milk, sabudana and kuttu flour, and set aside grains such as wheat, rice and lentils for the day. Onion, garlic, alcohol and non-vegetarian food are avoided. Tradition also asks for restraint of a different kind — avoiding anger and harsh speech — and treats that as part of the vrat rather than an afterthought. As with any fast, it is adapted to one's health and capacity.
Significance
Ashtami is held to be the tithi on which the Goddess's power is most accessible, and the monthly Durgashtami is kept for protection, courage and the wellbeing of the family. It is traditionally associated with the removal of obstacles and with steadiness under difficulty. The monthly observance builds toward Maha Ashtami of Sharad Navratri, the greatest Ashtami of the year, when the Sandhi Puja is performed at the junction of Ashtami and Navami.
Masik Durgashtami puja samagri
Gather these before the puja:
- An image or idol of Goddess Durga
- A red cloth or chunri
- Red flowers, especially hibiscus
- Kumkum, sindoor and haldi
- A ghee lamp and incense
- Panchamrit
- Kheer or halwa as naivedya
- Coconut, betel leaves and fruit
- Bangles or items for kanya puja
Frequently asked questions
When is Masik Durgashtami in March 2026?+
March 2026 has one Masik Durgashtami: Masik Durgashtami (Chaitra) — Thursday, 26 March 2026. Timings are computed for New Delhi.
What is the Masik Durgashtami tithi time in March 2026?+
26 March: tithi 25 Mar 1:50 PM to 26 Mar 11:49 AM. (New Delhi, IST)
How many Masik Durgashtami are in 2026?+
There are 12 Masik Durgashtami in 2026 for the Delhi region — one each lunar month on the Shukla Ashtami.
How is it related to Navratri's Durga Ashtami?+
The Shukla Ashtami of Ashwina, falling inside Sharad Navratri, is the annual Maha Ashtami; the monthly Durgashtamis carry the same devotion through the year.
How is the vrat kept?+
Devotees fast for the day, worship Durga with flowers and lamps, and recite the Durga Saptashati or Durga Chalisa. Some offer kanya pujan on the annual Ashtami.
What is the significance?+
The Ashtami tithi is held sacred to the Shakti principle; the vrat is kept for protection, strength and the removal of fear — matters of faith and tradition.
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