Durga Puja festivities are underway and it’s that time of the year when people head to pandals to wash away their stress and indulge in good food. The third day of Durga Puja is celebrated as Durga Ashtami , a day packed with rituals, cultural programmes and fun gatherings. This year, Maha Ashtami or Durga Ashtami is being celebrated on Tuesday, September 30.

This is the day when many people invite nine unmarried girls as Kanjaks and honor them by washing their feet, applying tilak on their forehead, and offering them a bhog of halwa, poori and chana. They are considered the incarnation of Maa Durga , and the ritual is popularly known as Kanya Pujan.

Delectable food is served at Ashtami celebrations. While halwa-poori-chana is a common bhog item in North India, in South India coconu

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