Ashtami Kanya Puja 2025: Date, shubh muhurat, rituals and significance for Navratri

Kanjak Puja or Kumari Puja is an important tradition of the Navratri celebrations, marking the culmination of the Devi Paksha or Navratri fast observed by devotees. This puja is held on the Ashtami and Navami tithis of Navratri. During Kanjak Puja, young girls are worshipped as they are believed to be the embodiment of Goddess Durga. Devotees prepare special dishes like halwa, poori, kala chana, and kheer, offer them to the girls, and present gifts after performing the aarti and worship.

In 2025, Maha Ashtami falls on 30th September, and the Ashtami Kanjak Puja of Shardiya Navratri will be observed on the same day.

Ashtami Kanya Pujan Shardiya Navratri 2025: Date and Time

• Date: 30th September 2025, Tuesday
• Maha Ashtami Tithi Begins: 04:31 PM, 29th September 2025
• Maha Ashtami Tithi Ends: 06:06 PM, 30th September 2025

Shubh Muhurat

The auspicious timings for performing Maha Ashtami Kanjak Puja are:

• Early Morning Muhurat: 05:01 AM – 06:13 AM
• Mid-Day Muhurat: 10:41 AM – 12:11 PM
• Abhijit Muhurat: 11:47 AM – 12:35 PM

Significance

During Navratri, families invite nine young girls under 13 years to their homes, worshipping them as representations of the nine goddesses or manifestations of Goddess Shakti. This tradition, called Nav Kanya Puja, is believed to please Goddess Durga. Girls symbolize the primordial energy of creation, and are treated with respect and reverence. Families wash their feet, tie a red mauli on their hands, apply a tilak on their forehead, and offer prasadam such as poori, dry black chana, and halwa while seeking blessings.

Rituals

To perform Ashtami Kanya Pujan, invite nine young girls to a home or a sacred space. Prepare and purify the area, setting up an altar with images of Devi Durga, decorated with fresh flowers, incense, and a lamp.

Prepare offerings like halwa, poori, and kala chana, and optionally present new clothes or gifts to the girls. The key part of the ritual is showing respect—wash their feet and apply a tilak on their foreheads with devotion before offering food and gifts.