The auspicious Ahoi Ashtami Vrat, Puja or Ahoi-Athen fast is observed for blessings of Hoi Ma by mothers, in North India on a specific Kartik Krishna Paksha Ashtami or Krishnashtami from dawn to dusk, till the first star is sighted in the evening.
Mothers observe fast, dedicate to Hoi Ma for safety, long life, prosperity and well- being of their children.
Ahoi Ashtami is also known as Sri Krishnashtami. Mothers observe fast, dedicate to Hoi Ma for safety, long life, prosperity and well- being of their children.
This fast was kept by only mothers of the sons, in the past. Married women who are facing child-related problems for a long time, such as delay in conceiving, repeated miscarriage, also perform Puja on Ahoi Ashtami for fulfilling their desires.
Date or Muhurat for Ahoi-Athen or Ahoi Ashtami Vrat, Puja 2019
It falls generally four days after Karwa Chauth and seven days before the auspicious Diwali festival, means Ahoi Ashtami Vrat and Diwali are celebrated on the same weekday (Var).
Ahoi Ashtami Vrat will be observed on Monday, October 21, 2019, this year. The evening time after the sunset is considered the best time for performing Ahoi or Hoi Puja.
Method of Ahoi Athen/ Hoi Ma Puja or Ahoi Ashtami Vrat, Puja
In some of the traditional Indian families, making of a garland for each child, called Hoi, using two or four silver beads or coins and a pendant made of silver annually, on Ahoi Ashtami. It is a part of an important tradition. It can be worn in the neck as a silver chain or necklace.
Method of Ahoi Ashtami Puja
A wooden Chauki is arranged for Ahoi Puja in a neat and clean place, covered with a clean cloth. A Karwa(a small earthen pot) or a small Kalash filled with water and covered with an earthen lid, is placed in a corner of Chauki before starting the preparations for Ahoi Ashtami Puja.
The Ahoi Ashtami Vrat and Puja rituals begin from the early morning with the making of the image of Ashtakoshtak (image having eight corners). Image of Mata Ahoi along with Sei on the wall, by Alpana, designing or using a purchased picture of Ma Hoi on the wallpaper.
Then Sankalp (pledge) is taken for the prosperity and well-being of the sons or children.
Fasting women worship and perform Puja, Arti with Deepak and offer Bhoga and Jal(holy water) to Ma Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Mata Ahoi and Sei, traditionally.
Ahoi Puja is performed traditionally after seeing the first star in the sky. It is performed by lighting Deepak (filled with Ghee) in front of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Parvati, and Ma Ahoi.
Arti is performed at the end of Puja, narrating Katha of Ahoi Mata, offering Arghya (Jal) from Karwa (earthen pot) or Kalash to the star or Moon. Women perform traditional women folk Puja of Hoi Mata and Sei.
Bhoga of eight Puries made of wheat – atta, eight sweet Pua or Gulgule or Halwa is also offered to the Hoi Mata. This food is given to some elderly women in the family or the Brahmin with some added money known as Dakshina or Bayana, as a mark of respect to her.
This Vrat is a difficult fast to observe, quite similar to Karwa Chauth, as this fasting is also done without taking fruits, food, and water. Fast is ended only after the sight of the first star in the sky.
Ahoi Ashtami Vrat or Ahoi-Athen, popular in North India, falls on the different lunar month, though the English calendar date of Ahoi Ashtami Vrat is the same in all the states of India.
All the Indian states that have a peninsular coastline (except Odisha), as well as Assam and Tripura, follow Amavasyant calendar.
Odisha and all other states, i.e. almost all the states of North India, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir follow the Purnimant calendar.
The states, which follow Purnimant calendar (month ends with Purnima or Puranmasi) Ahoi Vrat falls on Ashtami Tithi of Kartik Krishna Paksha.
The Indian states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra and southern region of India, which follow Amavasyant calendar (month ends with Amavasya), Ahoi Ashtami Vrat falls in the lunar month Ashwin (Krishna Paksha ) as Ashwin begins fifteen days late in these States.
