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Eighth day of the Navaratri festival in Hinduism
Durga Ashtami or Maha Ashtami is the eighth day of the Navaratri festival celebrated by Hindus in veneration of the goddess Durga. In Eastern India, Durga Ashatmi is also one of the most auspicious days of the five days-long Durga Puja festival. Traditionally, the festival is observed for 10 days in Hindu households, but the actual puja that takes place in the pandals is held over a period of 5 days. In India, fasting is undertaken by Hindus on this holy occasion. People also get together on this day to perform the folk dance garba and wear colourful clothes.
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Schools across several Indian states are observing holidays on October 19 and 20, 2026, for Durga Ashtami and Dussehra. The closures coincide with key dates in the Navaratri and Durga Puja festivities, with state governments and individual educational institutions following their respective holiday calendars.
While several schools have announced an autumn break, covering the festivals in its course, many states, including Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand, and Bihar, have declared holidays for educational institutes on the above-mentioned dates.
Bank Holiday Today, October 19, 2026: Check whether banks are closed in Uttar Pradesh and other states for Maha Navami. See the state-wise bank holiday list and digital banking services.