Ashokashtami is one of the greatest Hindu festivals observed with great passion in most parts of India.
It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of Shukla Paksha during the month Chaitra which usually comes around in March or April. The festival is an important event during Chaitra Navratri and represents good over evil.
The festival is celebrated particularly in Odisha where the festival gets celebrated with large procession of chariots.
At Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, the idol of the Lord Lingaraj Chandrasekhara is taken out in a well decorated chariot on which thousands of people gather to see this Rath Yatra that moves towards the Rameswara Temple.
Other parts of India are also observed various festivals of Ashoka Ashtami like fair known as Unakoti Tirtha in Tripura where pujas to the sculptured rock forms of gods are done. pilgrims of Odisha state and surrounding places are held.
In Hindu mythology the name Ashka i.e. without sorrow is defined as Ashtami. Lord Rama, upon this day, worshipped Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti and prepared himself for the final battle against the demon king Ravana. Alarmed by their divine power, he defeated Ravana with the Brahmastra on the next day.
