Ahoi Ashtami is observed on Krishna Paksha Ashtami during Kartik month.
It is also known as Ahoi Aathe and is dedicated to Ahoi Mata.
Mothers fast from sunrise to star sighting without food or water.
Devotees draw or hang an image of Ahoi Mata and offer traditional foods.
The festival is mainly celebrated in North Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
Details
Ahoi Ashtami, observed on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the waning moon in the Hindu month of Kartik (or Ashwin in the Amanta calendar), is a significant festival celebrated by mothers across India for the well-being and longevity of their children. Traditionally, the fast was observed for sons, but in modern times, it encompasses prayers for both sons and daughters. The fast is strict, with women abstaining from food and water from dawn until the sighting of stars in the evening, at which point the fast is broken.
The rituals of Ahoi Ashtami involve early morning baths, taking a vow (Sankalp) for the well-being of children, and preparing for the evening puja. Women draw or hang an image of Ahoi Mata, often depicted with eight corners to signify Ashtami, and perform the puja with offerings of wheat, water, and traditional foods like puris and halwa. The puja concludes with the narration of the Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha, a story emphasizing the importance of the festival.
In 2025, Ahoi Ashtami will be observed on October 13. The puja muhurat (auspicious time) is from 5:53 PM to 7:08 PM, and the fast is traditionally broken after sighting the stars, which is expected around 6:06 PM.
