Durga Puja 2028: Ashtami, Navami & Sandhi Puja Dates
Exact tithi windows for Shashthi to Dashami in 2028, the Sandhi Puja time, and the Ashtami date confusion explained.
Durga Puja 2028: Mahalaya is on Mon, 18 Sept 2028, and the main five days run from Shashthi to Vijayadashami (Sun, 24 Sept 2028 to Wed, 27 Sept 2028). Durga Ashtami is Tue, 26 Sept 2028 (some calendars list Mon, 25 Sept 2028), and the all-important Sandhi Puja falls around 6:35 am–7:23 am IST. The same nine nights are Sharad Navratri elsewhere in India — see the Navratri 2028 guide for colours and a crystal per day.
Durga Puja 2028: tithi windows (IST)
| Puja day | Tithi begins | Tithi ends |
|---|---|---|
| Shashthi (Bodhon / Akaal Bodhan) | Sat 23 Sept, 8:12 am | Sun 24 Sept, 6:57 am |
| Maha Saptami | Sun 24 Sept, 6:57 am | Mon 25 Sept, 6:33 am |
| Maha Ashtami | Mon 25 Sept, 6:33 am | Tue 26 Sept, 6:59 am |
| Maha Navami | Tue 26 Sept, 6:59 am | Wed 27 Sept, 8:10 am |
| Vijayadashami (Bijoya Dashami) | Wed 27 Sept, 8:10 am | Thu 28 Sept, 9:56 am |
The Durga Puja sequence
- Mahalaya (Mon, 18 Sept 2028): the new moon before Navratri — also Sarva Pitru Amavasya. It marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the invocation of the goddess. See Pitru Paksha 2028.
- Shashthi to Saptami: the goddess's face is unveiled and the Kola Bou (Nabapatrika) is bathed and installed.
- Ashtami: Anjali in the morning and Kumari (Kanya) Puja. Sandhi Puja at the Ashtami–Navami junction, with 108 lamps.
- Navami: the culminating puja and havan.
- Dashami (Wed, 27 Sept 2028): Sindoor Khela and the immersion (Bisarjan); Vijayadashami / Dussehra elsewhere.
Crystals for the goddess's altar
Many households keep a sphatik (clear quartz) at the centre of the altar and add red red jasper or carnelian for Durga's Mars-linked energy. Everything here is traditional belief, not a promise of results.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Durga Ashtami 2028?+
Durga Ashtami 2028 is Tue, 26 Sept 2028 by the sunrise rule; some calendars list Mon, 25 Sept 2028 using the midday rule. The tithi runs Mon 25 Sept, 6:33 am to Tue 26 Sept, 6:59 am IST.
What is the Sandhi Puja time in 2028?+
Sandhi Puja falls at the Ashtami–Navami junction, about 6:35 am to 7:23 am IST on Tue, 26 Sept 2028. Pandals publish exact city timings.
When is Mahalaya 2028?+
Mahalaya 2028 is Mon, 18 Sept 2028, the new moon (Sarva Pitru Amavasya) before Navratri.
When is Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2028?+
Wed, 27 Sept 2028 — the day the Dashami tithi covers the afternoon. In Bengal it is also Bijoya Dashami, with immersion.
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