Ahoi Ashtami 2023 – Maa Parvati will bless your offspring with prosperity!

Ahoi Ashtami 2023: The festival of Ahoi Ashtami is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. On this day, women keep a fast for the prosperity of their children.

When is Ahoi Ashtami 2023?

This year, Ahoi Ashtami will be celebrated on 5th Nov, 2023.
Every year, this festival comes in the Ashtami Tithi of Kartik Krishna Paksha.
This is a significant day to observe a full day of fasting to receive blessings from Ahoi Mata.
Read on ahead to learn more about this special day of the Hindu panchang.

Why is Ahoi Ashtami Celebrated?

Ahoi Ashtami is a day to celebrate the immeasurable and infinite love of the mother for their children. This day is celebrated about 8 days before Diwali – the festival of lights.
It is a day of great significance where mothers observe a fast, with no water to venerate Mata Ahoi, who is another Avatar of Maa Parvati to receive protection and blessings and long life for her children.

Ahoi Ashtami can be celebrated by everyone. Women who have children, and even women who are hoping to have children.

Although the origins of how this tradition came into common practice is unknown, legend says that it is the journey of penance and protection for a family from ancient times.

There was once a happy family. A merchant, his wife and children. They lead a regular life and went on about their duties as one would.

One day, the wife decided to do some renovations in their home before Diwali, so she ventures into the forest to gather her resources. That is when fate strikes. In the process of gathering soil, she unintentionally harms a Lion’s cub, fatally. The lioness, enraged, casts a curse on the family, and alas, in the coming few years, the couple ends up losing their children, just as the lioness did.

Overcome by utter grief and loss, they decide to put an end to their misery after one final pilgrimage. On their journey, they walk till their knees give in, as penance to their acts. And in that moment a booming voice emanates from the skies.

A tone pitiful, yet kind. The voice tells them to go back to where they came from. Serve the Holy cow and pray to Mata Ahoi, the rider of Lions.

The couple, does as they have been told. And pay their respect and sincerely repent their actions. And are finally blessed with forgiveness.

Mata Ahoi, or Parvati, blesses those that show her true devotion even while facing dire circumstances. Thus is the lesson of faith in a higher power.

How can you celebrate this day?

Ahoi Ashtami is primarily a fast. A day where you practice self-control and stay away from food and water till the stars appear in the night. It’s a straightforward process. We encourage everyone should do it, so long as there is true devotion in their hearts.

Here are some simple steps that you can follow:

1. Wake up early, take a bath and wear fresh clothes.
2. Clean the house and select and are in your home to observe dhyaan for your sankalp.
3. The fast begins early in the morning and will go on until the stars come out at night.
4. To place the deity, you can take a picture of, draw on the wall or a piece of cloth that you can hand on the wall with Mata Ahoi on it. It is important or remember that this representation must have 8 corners, so as to signify Ashtami. Typically the image shows Mata Ahoi, a lion and children.
5. Next step is to purify the area where you are going to offer prayers with Gangajal and make alpana and put some wheat on the floor or wooden pedestal that you have prepared.
6. Next is time to take a Kalash filled with water and place it on your pedestal. This kalash is decorated with shoots of grass, which is easily available at this time of the year, covered and kept where the alpana is.
7. It is also considered auspicious to donate food and alms to brahmans.
8. After offering your prayers, you can break your fast in the evening once the stars appear.

This practice, done once a year is lovingly done by mothers for the long life and good health of her children.

Can you drink water during Ahoi Fast?

It is not recommended to have water during this period. However, health and strength must be taken into account, and it is only advised to follow what you are able to do without causing any damage to oneself.

Is Ahoi Ashtami only for sons?

This Puja can be done for any children, regardless of the gender.

Who can Keep Ahoi Ashtami fast?

Most times this Puja is done by women with children, or in hopes of having children.
This is a once a year activity, and should be done with wholehearted devotion for Goddess Parvati.

what to avoid on Ahoi Ashtami?

It is recommended to avoid wearing, black, blue or white garments on this day in order to attract more vibrance and life force from the divine for your children.