Ahoi Ashtami 2023 Date, Ahoi Mata Vrat 2023
Ahoi Ashtami (अहोई अष्टमी) falls on Krishna Paksha Ashtami tithi of Kartik month as per Purnimant calendar and in the month of Ashwin as per Amanta calendar followed in Gujarat, Maharashtra and other southern states though it occurs on the same day as its only month name that is different. Ahoi Ashtami festival occurs eight days before Diwali Puja and four days after Karwa Chauth. Similar to Karwa Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami vrat is more popular in Northern India and is a strict fast when most women do not drink even water for the whole day till sighting of the stars.
Ahoi Ashtami fasting and Puja is dedicated to Ahoi Mata or Goddess Ahoi. Ahoi Mata is worshipped by women for the well-being and long life of their children. Ahoi ashtami is also known as Ahoi Aathe as fasting for Ahoi Ashtami is done during Ashtami Tithi which is the eighth day of the month.
Earlier mothers used to fast from morning to evening for the wellbeing of their sons on Ahoi Ashtami day. But nowadays the Ahoi Ashtami fast is observed for the wellbeing of all children i.e. for sons as well as for daughters. Fast is broken during evening-night time when stars are visible in the sky. So the Ahoi Ashtami fast is completed after sighting stars in the sky. Some women break the fast after sighting moon but its difficult to follow as the moon rises late in the night on Ahoi Ashtami.
Ahoi Ashtami Puja Preparation
Before sunset time on Ahoi Ashtami day, Puja preparations must be made. Women draw the image of Goddess Ahoi on the wall though nowadays Ahoi Ashtami calendar is available in the market easily. Ahoi Mata image or wall post paper picture used for the Puja should have Ashtha Koshthak (अष्ठ कोष्ठक) i.e. eight corners as the festival being celebrated on Ashtami Tithi. The images of Sei (सेई) (i.e. hedgehog and its children) must also be drawn near along with Goddess Ahoi. The Ahoi Ashtami calendar contains all the images. Ahoi Ashtami Puja calendars shows seven sons and daughter-in-laws from the legend of Ahoi Ashtami.
The food items which are prepared in Ahoi Mata Puja includes 8 Puri, 8 Pua and Halwa, some women make small-small Gud Roti and suji ka halwa and after smearing vermillion to Ahoi Mata and reading Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha along with Ahoi Mata Aarti, the gud roti and halwa along with sugarcane (गन्ना) and reddish(मूली) is offered to Ahoi Mata. These food items are also given to a Brahmin with some money and rest all Ahoi Mata Prasad is eaten by family members.
Ahoi Mata Puja
The best time to perform Ahoi Mata Puja is during Sandhya time just after sunset.
Usually women perform Ahoi Ashtami Puja along with the other female and male members of the family. Women narrate the story of Ahoi Mata or the Ahoi Mata Vrat Katha which is also given on the Ahoi Mata calendar. There are many versions of Ahoi Ashtami Katha but most of them describe how female devotee of Ahoi Mata got blessed by seven sons even after getting cursed for accidently killing the offsprings of Sei. Sei is also worshipped along with Ahoi Mata and seven grass shoots along with Halwa is offered to Sei.
Ahoi of silver is also made in some communities for Ahoi Ashtami. Silver Ahoi is known as Syau (स्याउ) and worshipped with Akshat, Roli and the milk during the Puja which is then worn in the neck as a pendant with the help of a thread along with two silver pearls.
Ahoi Ashtami Aarti or Ahoi Mata Aarti is performed at the end of the Puja.
Stars or Moon worship on Ahoi Aathe
As per family tradition that is going on since long, women either give Argha to the stars or the moon before breaking the fast. Ahoi Ashtami Puja Timings along with time for sighting stars and moon rise time can be checked.
Ahoi Ashtami and Krishnashtami
Women who have difficulties in conceiving, or have miscarriage or don't have a boy child also perform Ahoi Ashtami Puja and observe the fast on the day of Ahoi Ashtami and get blessed with a baby boy. Thus, the day of Ahoi Ashtami is known as Krishnashtami. Ahoi Ashtami day is very important for those couples who don't have any children. Thus childless couples must think about performing Ahoi Ashtami puja and/or observing fast. On the same day as Hoi Ashtami couples take dip in the Radha Kunda at Mathura, perform Puja and make offering of the Kushmanda. Devotees from nearby as well as faraway places visit Radha Kunda to take a holy dip in the sacred pond during Arunodaya i.e. the time just before the sunrise.
Ahoi Ashtami Puja Timings
Ahoi Ashtami 2023 Date - Sunday, November 5, 2023
Ahoi Ashtami Puja Muhurat - 05:33 PM to 06:52 PM (New Delhi Time, other cities may differ a little)
Duration - 01 Hour 18 Mins
Radha Kund Snan 2023 Date (Govardhan) - Sunday, November 5, 2023
Sanjh (evening) time for sighting Stars - 05:58 PM (New Delhi Time, other cities may differ a little)
Moonrise on Ahoi Ashtami - 12:02 AM, November 6 (New Delhi Time, other cities may differ a little)
Ashtami Tithi Begins - 12:59 AM on Nov 5, 2023
Ashtami Tithi Ends - 03:18 AM on Nov 6, 2023
