BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.3.3//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:42@srijagannathchicago.org DTSTART:20261018T170000Z DTEND:20261018T210000Z DTSTAMP:20261005T233420Z URL:https://srijagannathchicago.org/events/durga-puja-maha-asthami/ SUMMARY:Durga Puja (Maha Asthami) DESCRIPTION:\n\n\n\n\n\n❀\; ॐ\; ❀\;\nଶୁଭ ଦୁର ୍ଗା ପୂଜା\nMaha AshtamiDurga Puja\nThe holiest day of Maa Dur ga’\;s worship\, as Odisha has honored it for centuries\, celebrated every year at Sri Jagannath Temple\, Chicago\nSunday\, October 18\, 2026 & nbsp\;·\; \; Puja &\; Havan from 5:00 PM\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nY a Devi Sarvabhuteshu Matri-rupena Samsthita\nTo the Goddess who dwells in all beings as the Mother\, we bow again and again.\n◆\; ◆\; ` 70\;\n\n\n\n\nSunday\, October 18\nPuja Schedule\n5:00 PMArrival &\; Sa nkalpa\n5:20 PMMaha Ashtami Durga Puja\n6:30 PMHavan (sacred fire offering )\n7:30 PMPushpanjali &\; Bhajans\n8:15 PMAarti\, Bhog &\; Prasad\n* Schedule is tentative and subject to change. Final timings will be update d closer to the event.\n\n\n\n\nI\n\nWhat Is Maha Ashtami?\nMaha Ashtami\, the eighth day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin\, is the most sacred day of Durga Puja. The Goddess is worshipped in her fiercest and most protect ive form\, devotees offer Pushpanjali with folded hands\, and the Havan\, the sacred fire offering\, carries the community’\;s prayers to the D ivine Mother.\n\n\n\n\n\nII\n\nThe Story of Maa Durga\nThe demon Mahishasu ra won a boon that no man or god could defeat him\, and drove the gods fro m heaven. The gods joined their divine energies\, and from that light Maa Durga was born. Shiva gave her his trident\, Vishnu his discus\, Indra his thunderbolt. Riding her lion\, she fought Mahishasura for nine days. At t he sacred moment where Ashtami meets Navami\, honored as Sandhi Puja\, she rose as Maa Chamunda and struck down the demons Chanda and Munda\, the tu rning point of the battle that ended in victory on the tenth day.\n\n\n\n\ n\nDurga Puja in Odisha\nA Festival of Silver\, Gold and Devotion\nAcross Odisha\, Durga Puja is one of the year’\;s grandest celebrations. Cut tack is world famous for its Chandi Medha and Suna Medha\, the Goddess ado rned in exquisite silver and gold filigree. On Ashtami the devotion is at its deepest: families rise early to offer Pushpanjali\, many keep a fast u ntil the puja is complete\, and mandaps fill with the sound of the ghanta and conch late into the night.\nIn Puri\, within the Jagannath temple itse lf\, Maa Bimala\, honored as a Shakti Peetha\, receives special worship du ring these days\, a reminder that Lord Jagannath and the Divine Mother are celebrated together.\n\n\n\n\nIII\n\nWhy Children Love Maa Durga\nTo chil dren she is a heroine: ten arms\, a fearless lion\, and a story where cour age wins. And she never comes alone. Durga Puja celebrates her homecoming with her children Ganesha\, Kartikeya\, Lakshmi and Saraswati. In Odisha\, Ashtami is the day children join their parents for Pushpanjali\, offering flowers to the Goddess for courage and wisdom\, then gather round to watc h the flames of the Havan rise\, memories that stay for a lifetime.\n\n\n\ n\n\n❀\; ❀\; ❀\;\nCelebrated Every Year at Sri Jagannath Temple\, Chicago\nEvery year\, our temple family brings the spirit of Odi sha’\;s Durga Puja to Chicago. Grandparents\, parents and children ga ther side by side for the Maha Ashtami Puja\, the Havan\, Pushpanjali and Aarti\, bhog and prasad\, and bhajans sung together. Everyone in the commu nity is welcome.\n\nDurga Puja\nHavan\nPushpanjali\nAarti\nBhog &\; Pra sad\nBhajans\n\n📍\; Sri Jagannath Temple\, 2295 Church Rd\, Aurora\ , IL 60502\n\n\n\n\n🙏\; Book an Archana\nReserve an Archana or spec ial puja for your family as part of this celebration.\nBook a Puja\nMake a Donation\n\n\n\n END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR