Zesht Ashtami is a Hindu festival celebrated on the eighth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadrapada, typically falling in August or September. It honors the goddess Durga and marks the beginning of the Navaratri festival, which lasts for nine nights. Devotees engage in fasting, prayers, and rituals to seek blessings for health, prosperity, and protection. The festival is particularly significant in regions like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, where elaborate celebrations take place. People often visit temples, perform traditional dances, and offer special foods to the goddess. The day symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and the importance of devotion.