Festivals
Date
Ahoi Ashtami
About
Ahoi Ashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha in Aswayuja (or Kartika in some calendars). It is dedicated to Ahoi Mata, a manifestation of the divine mother.
Significance:
Mothers observe this rigorous fast to seek the protection and prosperity of their offspring. It is also a day when couples seeking to conceive offer special prayers for the blessing of a child. It emphasizes the nurturing and protective aspect of motherhood.
Rituals & Puja Vidhi:
1. Fasting: Mothers observe a day-long fast and break it only after sighting the stars or the moon. 2. Ahoi Puja: Worshipping the image of Ahoi Mata with offerings of grains, sweets, and water. 3. Katha: Listening to the traditional 'Ahoi Mata Vrat Katha' in the evening with other women. 4. Arghya: Offering water to the stars or the moon as a concluding ritual of the fast.