Mahashtami or Durgashtami is the eighth day of the Navratri festival celebrated by Hindus all over the world. This year, it will be observed on Sunday, October 22, 2023. It falls on the second day of the four-day-long Durga Puja festival, usually in September or October. The day is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, and her various manifestations such as Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati are invoked during the puja rituals. Devotees observe fasts and offer prayers to the goddess for health, wealth, and prosperity. Mahashtami is considered to be one of the most auspicious days of the year and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor, especially in the eastern parts of India.