Like bygone years, the Ashokastami has started at Aslakanta Mandir in North Guwahati on Monday. The festival started at around 10.30 am on Monday and it will continue till Tuesday, 8.28 am. On this auspicious day, nearly 50,000 and above devotees are expected to gather on the occasion.

Ashoka Ashtami is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated with great fervor in India. In the Gregorian calendar this date corresponds to the months of March to April.

Devotees come over there to perform funeral rites of their relatives because it gives solace to persons who have died. It is a mythological faith that a holy dip in sacred rivers during the Ashokastami takes humans out of the circle of life and death.

This festival is devoted to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to the Hindu calendar, Ashoka Ashtami is observed on the 'Ashtami' (8th day) during the Shukla Paksha in the month of 'Chaitra'. It falls during the propitious 'Chaitra Navratri' festival.