Why Is Banada Ashtami 2027 So Special?

When the Goddess Fed a Starving Earth

In the cold mornings of the month of Paush, when green vegetables flourish in the fields, a festival arrives that worships the Goddess as the giver of food and vegetation. This festival is Banada Ashtami. In 2027, Banada Ashtami will be observed on Saturday, 16 January. Shakambhari Navratri also begins on this day and continues until Paush Purnima.

Detail	Information
Name of the festival	Banada Ashtami
Date	16 January 2027
Day	Saturday
Hindu month	Paush
Paksha (fortnight)	Shukla Paksha (waxing fortnight)
Tithi (lunar day)	Ashtami (eighth lunar day)
Shakambhari Navratri	16 January to 22 January 2027
Conclusion	Paush Purnima, Shakambhari Jayanti
Abhijit Muhurat (Delhi)	Approximately 12:10 to 12:50 in the afternoon
Rahu Kaal (Delhi)	Approximately 9:50 to 11:10 in the morning
Deity worshipped	Mata Banashankari, the Shakambhari form

The start and end times of Ashtami tithi can differ slightly from city to city, so confirm the exact puja time with your local Panchang. Avoid beginning the worship during Rahu Kaal.

Main Rituals of the Day

• Meditation on Goddess Shakambhari or Banashankari after the morning bath
• Offering fresh green vegetables, fruits and leafy greens in the puja
• Worship with a ghee lamp, red flowers, kumkum and akshat (unbroken rice)
• Recitation of the 11th chapter of the Durga Saptashati or hymns to the Goddess
• Donating grain, vegetables and food to those in need

What Is Banada Ashtami?

Banada Ashtami is a festival dedicated to Goddess Banashankari. The word "Bana" comes from the Sanskrit "Vana", meaning forest. Banashankari means Shankari, the Goddess who dwells in the forest and she is a form of Mata Parvati. She is also called Shakambhari, because she nourished the world with shaka, that is, greens and vegetables.

The festival is observed with great devotion especially in Karnataka, Maharashtra and many parts of South India. The Banashankari temple near Badami in Karnataka is a major centre of this worship. The Goddess has long been regarded as the family deity of the Chalukya dynasty there. Even today, thousands of families worship her as their Kuladevi (family Goddess). In North India, ancient shrines of Shakambhari Devi in Sambhar in Rajasthan and in the Saharanpur region of Uttar Pradesh draw large crowds during these days.

What Is the Story of Goddess Shakambhari?

This story appears in the Devi Bhagavata and the Durga Saptashati. In ancient times, a demon named Durgam performed severe penance and obtained the four Vedas from Lord Brahma. With the Vedas lost, yajnas stopped, the gods no longer received offerings and rain ceased on earth. A terrible famine lasted many years. Rivers dried up, fields turned barren and living beings suffered from hunger.

The sages then went to the Himalayas and prayed to the Goddess. She appeared and seeing the suffering of her children, tears flowed from her eyes. It is said that the Goddess shed tears from hundreds of eyes for 9 days without pause and rain returned to the earth. For this reason she was called Shatakshi, the one with a hundred eyes.

The Goddess then brought forth greens, fruits, roots and grains from her own body and fed the hungry world. In this form she came to be known as Shakambhari. In the end she slew the demon Durgam and restored the Vedas and because of this victory she also received the name Durga.

This story is not merely a mythological event. It carries a deep message that when human beings are cut off from knowledge and dharma, nature also begins to withdraw its support. And when compassion awakens, greenery returns even to a parched land.

The Puja Vidhi of Banada Ashtami

The worship of Banada Ashtami is simple but devotion matters greatly. The Goddess is the mistress of food and vegetation, so greenery and freshness are considered essential in her puja.

1. Wake before sunrise, bathe and wear clean clothes. Red or green is considered auspicious.
2. Clean the place of worship and spread a red cloth on a wooden platform.
3. Place an idol or picture of Goddess Shakambhari or Banashankari.
4. Set up a kalash filled with water and place mango leaves and a coconut on it.
5. Offer kumkum, turmeric, akshat, red flowers and a chunari (sacred veil) to the Goddess.
6. Place fresh green vegetables, leafy greens, seasonal fruits and roots before her.
7. Light a ghee lamp and chant the mantra below 108 times.
8. Recite the 11th chapter of the Durga Saptashati, which describes the Shakambhari form.
9. Perform the aarti and distribute the vegetable bhog as prasad.

Mantras for the Puja

Mantra	Meaning	Purpose	Count
Om Shakambhari Devyai Namah	Salutations to Goddess Shakambhari	Food, health and prosperity	108 times
Om Dum Durgayai Namah	Salutations to Goddess Durga	Protection and removal of obstacles	108 times

Those who wish to fast may take only fruits on this day. Many families eat sattvic food for all 7 days of Shakambhari Navratri and break the fast on Paush Purnima.

The Astrological Significance of Banada Ashtami

During the month of Paush, the Sun moves through Sagittarius and then Capricorn. In 2027, Banada Ashtami comes just after the Sun enters Capricorn, when according to tradition Uttarayan, the Sun's northward journey, has already begun. Worship of the Goddess during Uttarayan is considered especially fruitful.

This year the festival falls on a Saturday, the day of Shani Dev, Saturn. Saturn is the significator of karma, service and the poor. The entire form of Goddess Shakambhari is connected with feeding the hungry. So donating food on this Saturday can be regarded as bringing double merit this year. For those whose horoscope is passing through Shani's Sade Sati or Dhaiya, this day is very favourable for charity and service.

On the Ashtami of the waxing fortnight, the Moon is half illuminated. This is a symbol of balance, the point between darkness and light. In astrology the Moon signifies the mind and nourishment. The food giving form of the Goddess and the nourishing quality of the Moon together make this day auspicious for peace of mind and prosperity at home.

Masik Durgashtami also falls on the same day, so devotees of Durga can receive the blessings of both observances together.

What Benefits Does This Festival Bring?

• The belief that the home will never lack food or wealth
• Protection of the family's health
• Relief from troubles connected with Saturn
• A sense of compassion and contentment in the mind
• Blessings for growth in farming and business

Dos and Donts

Do	Do not
Worship with fresh vegetables and fruits	Do not offer stale or spoiled items
Feed a hungry person	Do not waste food
Eat sattvic food	Stay away from tamasic food and intoxicants
Water trees and plants	Do not cut green trees unnecessarily
Respect elders and women	Do not speak harshly to anyone

The Compassion of the Goddess Lives in Greenery

Banada Ashtami reminds us that the food on every plate is the fruit of divine grace. The Goddess who could turn the earth green with her tears during a famine can also end the droughts in the lives of her devotees. Sincere worship, the gift of food and respect for nature on 16 January 2027 are the essence of this festival. In a home where the hungry are fed, Mata Shakambhari herself resides.

FAQ

When is Banada Ashtami 2027?
Banada Ashtami 2027 will be observed on Saturday, 16 January, on Paush Shukla Ashtami.

Who is worshipped on Banada Ashtami?
Goddess Banashankari is worshipped on this day. She is also called Shakambhari and is the food and vegetation giving form of Mata Parvati.

How long is Shakambhari Navratri 2027?
Shakambhari Navratri begins on 16 January and concludes on Paush Purnima, 22 January 2027, with Shakambhari Jayanti.

What should be donated on Banada Ashtami?
Donating grain, green vegetables, fruits and food is considered most auspicious. Since the day is a Saturday, feeding the poor is especially rewarding.