Durva Ashtami – Significance, Puja Vidhi, and Story

The festival of Durva Ashtami falls on the Ashtami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Bhadrapada month. In 2025, this auspicious day will be celebrated on 31st August. This festival is especially dedicated to the worship of Durva grass, which devotees offer to Lord Ganesha and other deities. Offering Durva in this sacred way is believed to bring prosperity, happiness, and divine blessings.

Significance of Durva

In Hinduism, Durva grass (Doob) holds immense spiritual significance. It symbolizes purity, prosperity, and divinity. People consider Durva essential for religious rituals and auspicious ceremonies. Lord Ganesha especially loves Durva, and devotees believe that his worship remains incomplete without it. On Durva Ashtami, make sure to offer Durva to Lord Ganesha. There are also many mythological stories behind this tradition.

Story of Durva Ashtami

Several mythological tales highlight the significance of Durva. Two popular stories are:

1. Lord Ganesha and Analasura

According to a legend, a dreadful demon once wreaked havoc across the three worlds. In response to the prayers of the gods, Lord Ganesha took a massive form and swallowed the demon. After this, his body generated intense heat. To calm this heat, the gods offered fresh green Durva grass, which instantly cooled his body and provided relief. Since then, Durva became dear to Lord Ganesha, and offering it became a sacred custom.

2. Durva’s Origin During Samudra Manthan

Another tale narrates that during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), gods used Mount Mandarachal as the churning rod and Lord Vishnu took the form of Kurma (tortoise) to support it. Due to the intense friction, some hair from Lord Vishnu’s thighs fell into the ocean, giving birth to Durva grass. Another belief says that when drops of Amrit (nectar) fell onto Durva during the churning, it became immortal and divinely pure.

Durva Ashtami Puja Vidhi (Worship Method)

In many regions, devotees observe a fast on Durva Ashtami.
Wake up early in the morning, take a bath, and wear clean clothes.
Take a vow (sankalp) for the fast and pray for the long life and prosperity of your children.
Clean the worship area and install idols or images of Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha.
Offer 21 knotted blades of Durva to Lord Ganesha. Along with Durva, offer flowers, fruits, rice, incense, lamp, sandalwood paste, and modak or sweet wheat bread.
While offering Durva, chant the mantra:
“Idam Durvadalam Om Gam Ganapataye Namah”.

Also worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Read or listen to the Durva Ashtami Vrat Katha (story).

Perform the Aarti of Lord Ganesha and the divine family.

After the puja, donate to the poor and needy as per your capacity.

Observe fast throughout the day. Some devotees consume only fruits and milk, while others observe a nirjal (waterless) fast.

Break the fast in the evening after completing the puja.

Importance and Benefits of Durva Ashtami

Worshipping on Durva Ashtami brings several spiritual and personal benefits:
This vrat mainly grants long life, good health, and well-being of children.
As Lord Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, offering Durva helps eliminate hurdles from life.
It brings peace, harmony, and positive energy to the household.
The Durva Ashtami festival serves as a beautiful reminder of our gratitude towards nature and divinity. It teaches us the extraordinary spiritual power of simple natural elements and encourages us to seek divine blessings through humility and faith.