Ashok Ashtami Festival or Ashokashtami Festival is one of the important Indian Hindu Festivals associated with Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti, celebrated especially in Orissa, India. Ashokashtami is also the important annual car festival celebrated at the Lord Lingaraj Temple, in Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Ashoka Ashtami falls on the eighth day of the Chaitra month (Chaitra Shukla Astami), (March – April). This year, Ashok Ashtami Festival is on 2nd April, 2009.
Significance of Ashok Ashtami Festival
According to the Hindu Puranas, Lord Ram or Sri Ramachandra was not able to kill Ravana even after the heavy battle. At that time, Vibhishana (Bibhishan), the younger brother of the demon Ravana, advised Lord Rama to pray and help the blessings of Goddess Shakti. Lord Ram performed pujas and prayed the Goddess Shakti & Lord Shiva at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar for seven long days and got Goddess blessings on the eighth day (Ashtami). With the blessings of Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiv, Lord Ram easily demolished Ravan with the Brahmastra, the weapon created by Lord Brahma. To celebrate the victory, Lord Ramachandra took out a procession of Shiva and Shakti in a chariot on the Ashtami day. Ashoka Ashtami festival was celebrated from that day to mark the victory of Lord Rama, or the victory of Good over evil.
The word “Ashoka” literally means “free from any shoka (sorrow)” and the word “Astami” means “eighth day”. Hence Ashoka Astami is the day when Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva relived the sorrows of Lord Rama.
Ashok Ashtami Festival Ratha Yatra
The Ratha Jatra (Car Festival) celebrated at the Lord Lingaraj Temple, in Bhubaneswar on Ashok Ashtami Festival attracts thousands of devotees from Orissa and the neighbouring states.
Ashok Ashtami Fair
Every year on Ashokashtami, Ashok Ashtami Fair is conducted at Unakoti Tirtha of Kailashahar Sub-Division, in Tripura which attracts lots of pilgrims from all over the state. During the fair special pujas are performed to the Gods and Goddesses images engraved on the hilly rocks.
Significance of Ashok Ashtami Festival
According to the Hindu Puranas, Lord Ram or Sri Ramachandra was not able to kill Ravana even after the heavy battle. At that time, Vibhishana (Bibhishan), the younger brother of the demon Ravana, advised Lord Rama to pray and help the blessings of Goddess Shakti. Lord Ram performed pujas and prayed the Goddess Shakti & Lord Shiva at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar for seven long days and got Goddess blessings on the eighth day (Ashtami). With the blessings of Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiv, Lord Ram easily demolished Ravan with the Brahmastra, the weapon created by Lord Brahma. To celebrate the victory, Lord Ramachandra took out a procession of Shiva and Shakti in a chariot on the Ashtami day. Ashoka Ashtami festival was celebrated from that day to mark the victory of Lord Rama, or the victory of Good over evil.
The word “Ashoka” literally means “free from any shoka (sorrow)” and the word “Astami” means “eighth day”. Hence Ashoka Astami is the day when Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva relived the sorrows of Lord Rama.
Ashok Ashtami Festival Ratha Yatra
The Ratha Jatra (Car Festival) celebrated at the Lord Lingaraj Temple, in Bhubaneswar on Ashok Ashtami Festival attracts thousands of devotees from Orissa and the neighbouring states.
Ashok Ashtami Fair
Every year on Ashokashtami, Ashok Ashtami Fair is conducted at Unakoti Tirtha of Kailashahar Sub-Division, in Tripura which attracts lots of pilgrims from all over the state. During the fair special pujas are performed to the Gods and Goddesses images engraved on the hilly rocks.
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