Ahoi Ashtami fast is celebrated on Ashtami of Krishna Paksha during Kartik month. This fast is kept to pray for a husband and children. Ahoi Ashtami fast is kept on the days of Udaya Kalik and Pradosh Vyapini Ashtami. This fast is usually kept by women. Women pray for their children’s long life and ask for blessings. This year, Ahoi Ashtami fast will be celebrated on 24th of October 2024.

Ahoi Ashtami Importance

As mentioned earlier, this fast is kept by a woman to pray for her children. Hence, this fast is only kept by mothers. According to an opinion, this day marks the beginning of Diwali. Women keeping this fast should wake up early in the morning and fill water in a utensil made of mud. After this, Mata Ahoi should be worshipped with dedication and devotion. A woman should not eat anything on this day. In evening, fruits should be offered to Mata Ahoi and she should be worshipped again.

Mata Ahoi should be worshipped when stars are visible in the sky. Water should be offered to stars and an image of Ahoi should be drawn on a wall. This image should be worshipped in evening. Sweets should be cooked and offered to Mata Ahoi. A woman should end her fast by drinking water offered by her child. The importance of Ahoi Ashtami is better understood by the story related to it.

According to this story, there was a King named Chandrabhan in Datiya Nagar during ancient times. He had a lot of children, but they always died at a young age. Due to this, both husband and wife were worried and stressed. Chandrabhan and his wife sacrificed all their wealth and went to a forest. They saw a pond near Badrika Ashram. They sacrificed food and waited there for their death.

They waited for seven days and their dedication was disrupted by a prophecy which stated that they were suffering due to their sins committed in their past life. The prophecy suggested that they would have to keep Ahoi Ashtami fast and receive blessings from Mata Ahoi. The prophecy suggested that if they keep this fast, their children would have a long life. Due to this, both husband and wife kept Ahoi Ashtami fast and asked Mata Ahoi to forgive them for their sins. Mata Ahoi blessed them.

Ahoi Ashtami Worship

On the day of Ahoi Ashtami, Mata Ahoi is worshipped and a woman keeps a fast seeking her blessings. Ahoi Ashtami is celebrated with a lot of zeal and excitement. Different things associated with Ahoi Ashtami should be collected. These include sugarcane, singhara, turmeric, pot etc. Women should keep this fast with full devotion and dedication. An image of Ahoi Mata should be drawn on a wall along with images of children.

Mata Ahoi should be worshipped in evening. A woman should touch her mother in law’s feet and offer water to the stars. A woman should end her fast by consuming water offered by her child. Ahoi Ashtami fast can be considered to be similar to Karva Chauth fast. On Karva Chauth, a wife asks for her husband’s long life. In the same way, on Ahoi Ashtami, a woman asks for her child’s long life. Karva Chauth fast ends when the Moon is visible in the sky. In the same way, Ahoi Ashtami fast ends when the stars are visible in the sky.

Ahoi Ashtami Fast and Children

People who do not have children should keep Ahoi Ashtami fast. Ahoi Ashtami fast blesses a couple with a child. For maximum results, you should keep four Puris each and halwa in a plate. You should wear orange colored clothes and worship Mata Ahoi. Halwa and Puri should also be distributed among your beighbours. A person keeping this fast is blessed and receives auspicious results.