What is the story of Ahoi Ashtami?
Origin tale One day in the month of Kartik, just a few days before Diwali festivities, the moneylender’s wife decided to repair and decorate her house for Diwali celebrations. When the day of Ashtami came, the wife drew the face of the young lion and observed fast and performed Goddess Ahoi fast.
How is Ahoi Ashtami celebrated?
Worship Method: On the day of Ahio Ashtami, women draw a picture of Ahoi Mata on the ocher, along with the picture of Seh, and her seven sons. Then fill an urn with water and keep it at a place of worship. Then worship Ahio Mata with rice and roli and offer sweet poo or flour pudding.
Is Ahoi Ashtami only for sons?
Although the Ahoi Ashtami festival is observed by Hindu mothers for their sons, however, the festival is also celebrated by women who wish to have a son. These Hindu women also keep fast and pray to Ahoi Mata for her blessings.
Can we drink water in AHOI fast?
The Ahoi Ashtami is quite similar to Karwa Chauth. It is a strict fasting day. Women observing this fast even abstain from consuming water throughout the day. They can only break the fast after sighting and worshipping the stars in the evening.
What can you eat in AHOI ashtami?
The other essentials required for the prayer include grains, food offerings such as puris, halwa, boiled channa and jowar, etc. In the evening ladies in the family read/listen to Ahoi Vrat Katha. Once the reading of the story is done, the sweets and money are distributed among children and elders of the family.
What happened on Durga ashtami?
The eighth day of Navratri or Durga Puja celebrations is known as Durgashtami, or Durga Ashtami. It is believed in some regions, the goddess Chamunda appeared on this day from the forehead of Mother Durga and annihilated Chanda, Munda, and Rakthabija (the demons who were associates of Mahishasura).
What do you eat on AHOI VRAT?
How do you keep AHOI Mata fast?
Place a Kalash filled with water and cover it with a lid. And then, keep a Karwa (earthen pitcher filled with water) on top of the Kalash. Pray to Ahoi Mata and seek her blessings for your children. Offer Gandham, Pushpam, Deepam, Dhoop and Naivedyam to Ahoi Mata.
When should I break AHOI fast?
Traditionally, Ahoi Ashtami mothers used to fast from dawn to dusk for the wellbeing of their sons. However, in modern India, the fast is observed for the wellbeing of all children, sons and daughters. Fast is broken after the sighting of stars in the sky. Some women break the fast after moonrise.
How do you open Hoi fast?
The procedure of Ahoi Ashtami Mothers wake up before sunrise, to have some refreshments and proceed to the temple to offer prayers for their children. The fast ends in the evening when the moon appears. Some families also break their fast once they see the stars in the sky.
What is the importance of Durga ashtami?
She brought their heads to Goddess Parvati and hence, Chandi Devi was then given the name Chamunda. On Mahashtami, the ritual of worshipping 64 Yoginis and eight ferocious forms of Goddess Durga- Ashta Shakti, is very important puja. These Shaktis are incarnations of Goddess Durga representing different energies.
Is ashtami good for marriage?
This day is considered auspicious for marriage, which falls on Uttarabhadrapada Nakshatra (Divaratri). According to the Hindu calendar, on this day, the Ashtami date of Krishna Paksha of Ashadha month and Revati Nakshatra is auspicious. This is day is also considered to be an auspicious time for getting married.