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Ashoka Ashtami 2026: Ashok Ashtami is a special festival of Hindu religion dedicated to Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. It is celebrated on the eighth day of Chaitra Navratri. According to mythology, Lord Rama also worshiped on this day to win over the Lankan king Ravana.
This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy in Lingaraj Temple of Odisha. Apart from this, Ashok Ashtami is also celebrated in many states of South India.
All the important details regarding date, time, auspicious time, significance and rituals related to Ashok Ashtami are given below-
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Ashok Ashtami 2026 date and time
- Ashok Ashtami 2026 date: 26 March 2026, Thursday
- Ashtami Tithi starts: March 25, 2026, at 01.50 pm
- End of Ashtami Tithi: At 11:48 am, March 26, 2026
Ashok Ashtami 2026 auspicious time
On the occasion of Ashok Ashtami, the time for Amrit Kaal Puja is from 06.50 am to 8.21 am. Apart from this, Abhijeet’s Muhurta is from 12.02 pm to 12.52 pm.
Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati are especially worshiped on the occasion of Ashok Ashtami.
Ashok Ashtami 2026 significance
The name ‘Ashoka’ means grief-free or free from sorrow. According to mythology, when Lord Rama was unable to defeat Ravana, he prayed to Shiva-Shakti.
Pleased with his devotion, Goddess Parvati blessed him, as a result all the sorrows of Ram were gone and he was successful in killing Ravana. For this reason, a grand procession of Shiva and Parvati is taken out on this day to end the suffering.
Ashok Ashtami 2026 puja rituals
Goddess Shakti and Lord Lingaraj are mainly worshiped on the day of Ashok Ashtami. On the occasion of this holy day, a grand Rath Yatra of Lord Lingaraja is taken out in Odisha, to see which a large number of devotees come from all over the country. Their representative deity Shri Chandrashekhar is seated on a chariot and taken to Rameshwaram temple.
On the same day, a huge fair is also organized at the Unakoti pilgrimage site in Tripura, where special worship is done for the idols carved on the hills. This day is considered a very auspicious day for attaining happiness and prosperity.
Ashok Ashtami puja method
On this day, waking up early in the morning and taking daily bath is considered auspicious.
After bathing, worship the Ashoka tree with devotion.
One should offer water to the tree and pray.
Pluck 8 tender buds or leaves from the Ashoka tree.
Use these 8 buds to worship Lord Shiva.
After this consume the buds with reverence and devotion.
Mantras related to Ashok Ashtami fast
Tvamashoka naamyen madhumasasamudbhavam.
Shokaratah Kalikam Prashya Mamshokam Sada Kuru.
Chaitra Navratri 2026: If you are thinking of doing Bhandara this Navratri, then note down the auspicious dates.
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