Navratri 2020: Durga Ashtami & Maha Navami Celebrations Today; Know Significant Colours, Muhurat, Rituals

Today being a confluence of Durga Ashtami and Ram Navami, the Chamunda form of Goddess Durga is also evoked.

File Photo: Idol of Goddess Durga with gold ornaments at a community puja pandal during Durga Puja festival in Kolkata. (PTI Photo/Ashok Bhaumik)

Navratri 2020: This year Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami fall on the same day i.e. today. On Durga Ashtami or Maha Ashtami, Goddess Maha Gauri is worshipped. It is considered to be the most auspicious day in the ten-day Navratri and Durga Puja. ALSO READ | Horoscope Today, 24 October: Gemini & Virgo Folks, You Need To Stay Alert & Keep THESE Things In Mind; Check What's In Store For Your Sun Sign Maha Gauri and the Siddhidatri forms represent Ashtami and Navami respectively. Today being a confluence of both days, the Chamunda form will also be evoked. All the eight forms of Goddess Durga which include Brahmani, Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasinghi, Indrani and Chamunda are worshipped on Maha Ashtami. Devotees conduct Kanya Pujan, also called Kanjika pujan, on either Ashtami or Navami, this year all will be performing it today. Today's Colours Pink is the colour dedicated to Goddess Maha Gauri and it represents hope, self-refinement and social upliftment. Violet is dedicated to Devi Siddhidatri and it represents aspiration and power. Rituals On the day of Ashtami, nine small pots are kept as all nine manifestations of Devi Durga are invoked in them. As earlier stated, they are all worshipped during Maha Ashtami Puja. Kanya Pujan or Kanjak will be performed and for that, eight young girls will be invited and they will be worshiped as the avatars of Goddess Durga. Family members wash their feet, offer red chunri, bangles and other shringar items. They will be offered food as prasad while members touch their feet to seek their blessings. Durga Ashtami Muhurat Ashtami begins at 6:57 AM on October 23 and ends at 6:58 AM on October 24. Maha Navami Muhurat Navami tithi begins at 6:58 AM on October 24 and ends at 7:41 AM on October 25.