Ahoi Ashtami 2021

Ahoi Ashtami or Ahoi athen as known in common tongue festival is specifically meant for mothers. The fasting and Puja on Ahoi Ashtami is dedicated to Mata Ahoi or Goddess Ahoi. She is worshipped by women for the well-being and long life of their children. This day is also known as Ahoi Aathe because fasting for Ahoi Ashtami is done during Ashtami Tithi which is celebrated in the month of October- November (8th day after full moon of Kartik Hindu month). This festival falls on a week before Diwali. Mothers keep fast all day and in the evening offer Pooja water to stars and prey for their long life of their children. Fast is broken during twilight after sighting stars in the sky. (Some women break the fast after sighting the moon but it might be difficult to follow as the moon rises late in the night on Ahoi Ashtami.)

Ahoi Ashtami fasting day falls approximately eight days before Diwali Puja and four days after Karwa Chauth. Similar to Karwa Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami is more popular in North India. This day is also known as Ahoi Aathe because fasting for Ahoi Ashtami is done during Ashtami Tithi which is the eighth day of the month.

Ahoi Ashtami Puja Vidhi

During Sayankal i.e. before the sunset, Puja preparations should be done. Women should draw the image of Goddess Ahoi on the wall. Any image of Ahoi Mata used for the Puja should have Ashtha Koshthak (अष्ठ कोष्ठक) i.e. eight corners due to the festival being associated with Ashtami Tithi. Along with Goddess Ahoi the images of Sei (सेई) (i.e. hedgehog and its children) should also be drawn near to the Goddess. Sei is a spiny mammal from the legend of Ahoi Ashtami. If drawing image on the wall is not feasible then big Wallpaper of Ahoi Ashtami Puja can also be used. Most Puja calendars also depict seven sons and daughter-in-laws from the legend of Ahoi Ashtami.

After that the place of worship is sanctified with holy water and Alpana is drawn. After spreading wheat on the floor or on the wooden stool, one water-filled Kalash should be kept at the place of worship. The mouth of the Kalash should be covered with an earthen lid.

A small earthen pot preferably Karwa is kept on the top of the Kalash. Karwa is filled with the water and covered with its lid. The nozzle of the Karwa is blocked with the shoots of the grass. The commonly used shoot is known as Sarai Seenka (सरई सींक) which is a type of willow. The seven shoots of the grass is also offered to Ahoi Mata and Sei during Puja. The shoot of Sarai is sold during the festival especially in the small towns of India. If shoot of the grass is not available then cotton buds can be used.

The food items which are used in Puja include 8 Puri, 8 Pua and Halwa. These food items are given to some elderly lady in the family or the Brahmin after adding some money.