Every festival in India is celebrated with immense belief, devotion, enthusiasm, and zeal. The festival of Ahoi Ashtami also known as Ahoi Aathe is specially meant for the mothers of the children, especially sons. Right after 4 days of Karwa Chauth, the significant Ahoi Ashtami festival is observed by north Indian mothers. On this auspicious day, The Hindu women keep fast for the happiness, safety, and longevity for their kids. Devoted mothers don’t eat and resist gulping down a drop of water throughout the day and break their fast after giving argh to shining stars. It is also said that the childless mothers also undergo fasting to be blessed with the motherhood.

The Ahoi Ashtami Pujan Vidhi

Women wake up early morning and after taking bath, they sanctify the place of worship with holy water. Then the picture of Ahoi Mata is drawn on the wall or can either be replaced with the framed picture of Ahoi Mata available in the market. Now pour a handful of rice in front of the photo of the goddess Ahoi and place a Karwa or pot filled with water on the poured rice. Light the Diya where the puja is being conducted. Apply the red tilak on the forehead of Ahoi Mata.

The women recite or heard the traditional legend in front of the Ahoi Mata and offer 8 puris, 8 puas and kheer (or halwa) as Bhog to seek the divine blessings of Maa Ahoi for the long life, happiness and welfare of the sons. While praying or reciting the Vrat Katha, hold the rice in your hands and later wrap it to the saree end. After that give the Bayna (saree, Shringaar items, and food) to the elder women (mother-in-law or married sister-in-law). Offer the argh seeing the twinkling stars and break the fast.

At some places, women wear the silver pendant of goddess Ahoi and two pearls of silver are threaded into the mala and use to adorn it till the occasion of Diwali.

Vrat Katha Or The Story Behind The Observance Of Fast

The story behind the celebration Of Ahoi Vrat is as follows. According to legend, there was a woman who lived in a village with her 7 sons. One day, before the Diwali festival, she went to get soil to renovate her home. As she started to dig the soil, accidentally her axe fall on a cub, and the cub died on the spot. She felt bad about what had happened, but there was nothing she could do about it, so she comes back home with the soil.

Following this incident, all her 7 sons died within a year. One day she was distressed and unable to bear her guilt, and narrated her whole story to the old ladies of the village and confessed her sin. As an apology, they suggested her that she should offer prayers to the Goddess Ashtami Bhagwati by sketching the face of the cub. So, the woman fasts on the “Krishnashtami” or Karthik Krishna Ashtami by praying and observing a fast regularly. She kept fast avoiding food and water and hence she gets back all her seven boys by the power of her prayer and since it becomes a ritual to worship the goddess Ahoi Aathe every year after the 4th day of Karwa Chauth. This story becomes so popular and even today all the mother who has son fasts and prays to Ahoi mara for the well- being and long life of their sons.

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