Ahoi Ashtami 2023

The Upvas of Ahoi Ashtami 2023 is observed on the Ashtami Tithi of the Krishna Paksha. On this day, Goddess Ahoi is worshipped. On this day, women Upvas for the protection and long life of their children. This Upvas is vital for people who are not able to give birth to children. This Upvas is lucky for the people whose children do not have a long life or whose child is destroyed in the womb. Generally, if this day is put into particular use, this day enables the child's progress and well-being. This Upvas is for long life and good fortune.

इस पेज को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए “अहोई अष्टमी” पर क्लिक करें।

The Upvas of Ahoi Ashtami falls after four days of Karva Chauth and eight days after Diwali Puja. As compared to Karva Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami is more famous in North India. Ahoi Ashtami is also known as Ahoi Anthe because this Upvas is observed on the Ashtami Tithi. It is the eighth day of the month.

On this day, women worship Goddess Ahoi (Parvati) and pray for their children's long life. Just like women observe Upvas for their husbands' long life on Karwa Chauth, similarly, they observe Ahoi Ashtami Upvas for their children's long life. Generally, this Upvas is performed to give birth to sons, but now, women have started to observe this Upvas for daughters. 

Importance of Ahoi Ashtami Upvas

The Tithi of Kartik Krishna Paksha is fraught with festivals, among which the two dominant festivals which women observe are Karwa Chauth and Ahoi Ashtami. Women follow these festivals by keeping Upvas from Shastriya and Lok point of view, and on the other hand, they give it a celebration form by arranging cultural programs. These celebrations comprise the feeling of family's welfare, and today, there is a tradition of seeking blessings from the mother-in-law by considering her feet as Tirth itself. The eighth day of Kartik Krishna Paksha is known as Ahoi or eighth. This Upvas arrives just a week before Diwali. It is said that this Upvas is observed by women who have children. In other words, it can be believed that Ahoi Ashtami Upvas is done for the welfare of small children. In this Upvas, the pictures of Sei and Sei children and the image of Ahoi Devi are worshipped. Ahoi Ashtami Upvas is done for experiencing the joy of child-bearing and for the prosperity of the child. On this day, a childless woman can also observe Upvas with the prayer of bearing a child. Actually, on this day, people seek the Ahoi form of Goddess Parvati for the protection, long life, good health, happiness, and prosperity of their children.

This Upvas is Observed Without Consuming Water 

Women tend to wake up early in the morning to observe Ahoi Ashtami Upvas; then, they keep a white karva meaning a utensil made of clay filled with water. After this, they meditate in the name of Goddess Ahoi. They worship Her by following all the rules and regulations for the protection of their children. On this day, mothers observe Upvas without having water. 

Arghya is Offered to the Stars

According to old beliefs, for the Ahoi Pujan, an effigy of eight koshthak of Geru or yellow clay is made on the north wall of the house in the evening. Following all the regulations, after doing bathing, tilak, etc., Bhog is offered. Some people, as per their potential, perform Puja by putting Moti in Silver Ahoi. After moonrise, women perform Shodshopchar Pujan by looking at the stars. Then, the Upvas is completed by offering Arghya water to the stars. Some women open their Upvas by offering Arghya to the moon and then complete the Upvas by having a meal. Simultaneously, some people put Ahoi and some silver balls in a thread, and then there is a tradition of putting some balls in the same thread every year. The Kalash leaped in cow dung for the Puja, and smooth clay is kept on the ground towards the north. After this, after worshiping the first revered Lord Sri Ganesh, Goddess Ahoi is honored, and Bhog made of milk, sugar, and rice is offered to Her. Then the story of Ahoi is heard and narrated by setting a Kalash filled with water on a wooden plank.

This Wish Gets Fulfilled

The Ahoi Ashtami Upvas is predominantly observed or the joy of child-bearing and child's progress. On this day, a childless woman can also keep Upvas with the desire of having a child. Actually, on this day, people offer prayers to the Ahoi form of Goddess Parvati for the protection, long life, good health, happiness, and prosperity of their children. Childless people perform Puja on this day with full devotion with the desire to have children. On this day, women prepare raw food mostly at the homes ( Urad Rice, Kadhi Rice) 

Troubles Will Get Away

To do the Puja of Goddess Ahoi, put some turmeric in cow's ghee, prepare a Diya, ignite sandalwood incense stick, offer roli, saffron, and turmeric to the goddess. Offer Rice porridge to the goddess. After the Puja, giving Bhog to a poor girl is considered to be auspicious. Apart from this, offer yellow Kaner flowers to Goddess Gauri to prevent the troubles from arriving in your child's life.

Rules of Ahoi Puja

Wake up early in the morning, take a bath, and wear clean clothes.

Now, draw the pictures of Goddess Ahoi, Goddess Parvati, and Syahu and his seven sons at home on the temple wall.

If you wish, you can use the posters available in the market for the Puja.

Now, take a new utensil and fill it with water. Make haldi Swastik on it, and now keep a chestnut on the lid of the container. 

Meditate in the name of Goddess Ahoi and read Ahoi Ashtami Upvas Katha along with the older women at home.

Keep clean cloth for all the women.

After the Katha, gift those clothes to those women.

Offer Arghya to the stars at night and then open the Upvas.

The Myth of Ahoi

In ancient times, there lived a moneylender. He had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. He also had a daughter who had come to her maternal house from her Sasural. When the seven daughters-in-law went to Diwali's forest to bring mud for applying at home, the sister-in-law also accompanied them. A Syahu lived at the place where the daughter of the moneylender was cutting the soil. By mistake, one child of the Syahu was wounded by the daughter's spade and died. The Syahu got angry and said, "I will bind your womb."

After listening to Syahu, the moneylender's daughter requested each of her sisters-in-law to get their womb bound in place of her. The youngest sister-in-law agrees to bind her womb in place of the moneylender's daughter. After this, all the children of the youngest sister-in-law die after seven days. After the death of the seven sons, she invited a Pandit and asked him for a solution. The Pandit advised her to look after a Surhi cow.

Surhi gets happy by the care and takes her to the Syahu. The two of them rest for a while on the way after getting tired. Suddenly the moneylender's youngest daughter-in-law looks at one side; she sees that a snake will sting Garuda Pankhini's child, and she kills the snake. At this point, Garuda Pankhini comes there and witnessing splashed blood all over; she presumes that the younger daughter-in-law has killed her child, and she starts pecking the youngest daughter-in-law through her beak.

On this, the youngest daughter-in-law says that she saved the life of her child. Garuda Pankhini gets happy at this and takes her to Syahu along with Surhi. There, being pleased by the youngest daughter-in-law's care, Syahu blesses her with the blessing of having seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. Through the prayers of the Syahu, the home of the youngest daughter-in-law is filled with sons and daughters-in-law. The meaning of Ahoi is also "Anhoni ko Honi Banana" as the daughter of the moneylender did. 

The Rule of Ahoi Ashtami Upvas

A woman who is about to observe the Upvas of Ahoi Ashtami should be aware of the rules of Ahoi Ashtami to receive the fruits of this Upvas ultimately. On the day of Ahoi Ashtami, Goddess Ahoi is worshipped. It is believed that a woman who performs the Upvas of Ahoi Ashtami, Goddess Ahoi herself, protects her child. 

1.Ahoi Ashtami is followed without having water. A woman who observes this Upvas without having water receives the fruits of this Upvas ultimately. 

2.The Arghya of Ahoi Ashtami Upvas is not offered in a bronze container because a bronze container is considered impure. If a woman gives Arghya in a bronze container, then her Upvas gets destroyed. 

3. In Ahoi Ashtami Upvas, Arghya is offered to the stars. Just as Karva Chauth gets completed by offering Arghya to the moon, Ahoi Ashtami gets completed by offering Arghya to the stars. 

4. In the Upvas of Ahoi Ashtami, a new Karwa is not taken because, according to this Upvas, this Upvas makes use of the Karwa of the Karwa Chauth.

5. The woman observing the Upvas of Ahoi Ashtami should not cut anything with sharp objects like a knife, scissors and should not indulge in any needle thread work.

6. Ahoi Ashtami Upvas is observed for the children. Hence, do not beat and scold your child or other's children on this day. 

7. Do not consume or let anyone consume non-vegetarian food on the day of Ahoi Ashtami Upvas.

8. A woman observing Ahoi Ashtami should not sleep during the day because it is more fruitful to perform Puja-Path on the day of Upvasing. 

9. A woman observing Ahoi Ashtami Upvas should not insult the older people. By doing this, her Upvas gets destroyed. 

10. Do not mop the floors of your home on the day of Ahoi Ashtami. As per ancient myths, it is not allowed to sweep the house on that day.

Must Remember Points

On this day, the Ahoi form of Goddess Parvati is worshiped. Childless women observe Upvas on this day and pray to have children. 

On the day of Ahoi Ashtami, before worshipping Goddess Ahoi, Lord Ganesha should be worshipped. 

The Upvas of Ahoi Ashtami is followed without having water. By doing this, the life of the child gets longer and attains prosperity.

Bayana must be taken out for the in-laws on the day of Ahoi Ashtami. If the in-laws do not stay with you, you can give the bayana to a Pandit or any other older person. 

On the day of Ahoi Ashtami, Arghya is offered to the stars. The child's life gets longer by doing this, and people who haven't received the joy of child-bearing get this joy. 

While listening to the Upvas story on Ahoi Ashtami, keep seven types of grains in your hands, and after the Puja, these grains should be fed to a cow.

While performing Ahoi Ashtami Puja, make your children sit beside you and, after offering bhog to Goddess Ahoi, feed the blog to your children.

Donate to the poor. By indulging in Donation and Dakshina, the Upvas gets fulfilled completely.

On the day of Ahoi Ashtami, after the Puja, do feed meals to a Brahmin and a cow. Seek and obtain their blessings. 

Aarti of Goddess Ahoi

Jai Ahoi Mata, Maiya Jaya Ahoi Mata.

Tumko Nisdin Dhyavat Har Vishnu Vidhata. Jaya Ahoi 

Brahmani, Rudradhi Kamla Tu Hi Hai Jagmata 

Surya- Chandrama Dhyavat Naarad Rishi Gata. Jai Ahoi Mata 

Mata Roop Nirajan Sukh-Sampatti Data

Jo Koi Tumko Dhyavat Nit Mangal Pata. Jaya Ahoi Mata

Tu Hi Pataal Basanti, Tu Hi Hai Shubhdata

Karma-Prabhav Prakashan Jagnidhi Se Trata. Jai Ahoi Mata

Jis Ghar Tumhro Vaasa, Taahi Ghar Gundh Aata 

Kar Na Sake Soi Kar Le, Man Nahi Ghabrata. Jai Ahoi Mata

Tum Bin Sukh Na Hove Na Koi Putra Pata 

Khan-pan Ka Vaibhav Tum Bin Nahi Aata. Jai Ahoi Mata

Subh Gudh Sundar Yukta, Sheer Nidhi Ki Jata

Ratan Chaturdash Tum Bin Koi Nahi Pata. Jai Ahoi Mata

Sri Ahoi Maa ki Aarti Jo Koi Gata

Ur Umang Ati Upje Paap Utar Jata. Jai Ahoi Mata

You can read similar write-up on relevance of astrology in indian festivals for all other major Indian Festivals.