Friday, 24 April 2026

About this day

Today is Shukla Ashtami of Vaishakha, running until 07:25 PM. Ashtami is the half-moon tithi, when the pull of the sun and the moon is at its most divided, and the tradition places its most intense observances at exactly that point — Durgashtami in the waxing fortnight.

It is a jaya tithi, held to favour contest, resolve and anything requiring nerve, and it is traditionally avoided for weddings. The nakshatra is Pushya, the most auspicious of the twenty-seven — nourishment itself, until 08:15 PM. Abhijit muhurta falls 11:59 AM–12:51 PM.

The day runs from 05:59 AM to 06:51 PM, 12h 52m of daylight, the yoga is Shoola and the karana Vishti, the moon stands in Mesha. Abhijit muhurta, the window centred on solar noon, falls between 11:59 AM and 12:51 PM. All of these are computed for India (IST); change the city in the header and they move with it.

• Shukla Ashtami tithi
• Pushya nakshatra
• Masik Durgashtami dates