The auspicious Ahoi Ashtami Vrat, Hoi Puja, or Ahoi-Athen Vrat (fast) is observed for the blessings of Hoi Ma by the mothers, in Northern India on a Kartik Krishna Paksha Ashtami from dawn to dusk, till the first star is sighted in the evening.
Mothers observe fast and dedicate themselves to Hoi Ma for the safety, long life, prosperity, and well-being of their children.
Ahoi Ashtami is also known as Sri Krishna Ashtami. Mothers observe fast, and dedicate themselves to Hoi Ma for safety, long life, prosperity, and well-being of their children.
This fast was kept by only mothers of sons, in the past. Married women who are facing child-related problems for a long time, such as delay in conceiving, or repeated miscarriage, also perform Puja on Ahoi Ashtami to fulfilling their desires.
Date or Muhurat for Ahoi-Athen or Ahoi Ashtami Vrat, Puja 2022
It falls generally four days after Karwa Chauth and seven days before the auspicious Diwali festival, which means Ahoi Ashtami Vrat and Diwali are celebrated on the same weekday (Var).
Ahoi Ashtami Vrat will be observed on Monday, October 17, 2022. The evening time after 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 traditional Indian families, making 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 on 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 in the early morning with the making of the image of Ashtakostaka (an 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 the Katha of Ahoi Mata, offering Arghya (Jal) from Karwa (earthen pot) or Kalash to the star or Moon. Women perform traditional women’s folk Puja of Hoi Mata and Sei.
Bhoga of eight Purie 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 a 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 the Amavasyanta 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 Purnimanta calendar.
The states, which follow Purnimanta calendar (month ends with Purnima or Puranmasi) Ahoi Vrat falls on Ashtami Tithi of Kartik Krishna Paksha.
The Indian states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the southern region of India, which follow the Amavasyanta 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.
