Ahoi Ashtami 2027

Puja Vidhi: Hindi Belt (Ahoi Aathe)

Who Should Do This Vrat?

• Mothers: Mothers observe this fast for the health, protection, long life, and prosperity of their children.
• Women Desiring Children: Women who are longing for a child also keep this vrat to seek the blessings of Ahoi Mata for offspring (Santan Prapti).

When Should This Be Performed?

• Sankalp and Fast: The vow is taken before sunrise, and the waterless fast (Nirjala Vrat) is kept through the day.
• Puja Muhurat: The Ahoi Ashtami puja is done in the evening during Pradosh Kaal (the period after sunset), traditionally begun as the stars start to appear. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Star Sighting (Tara Darshan): Offer Arghya once the stars have appeared in your sky (families who offer it to the Moon do so after moonrise, which comes late at night). Check the timings for your city on this page.
• Breaking the Fast: Once the Arghya is offered.

About the Festival

Ahoi Ashtami is a deeply revered North Indian observance where mothers keep a strict waterless fast and perform puja to Ahoi Mata for the long life and wellbeing of their children. It takes place on the Ashtami (eighth day) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik.

The Vrat Katha (Story of the Syahu and the Youngest Bahu)

Once upon a time, there lived a moneylender (sahukar) who had seven sons and one daughter, all of them married. His daughter came to her parents' home every Diwali. Before the festival, his seven daughters-in-law (bahus) went into the forest to dig soil for plastering the house, and their sister-in-law went along with them. As she dug, her spade (kudal) struck and killed a young one of the Syahu (porcupine) who lived in the burrow there.

The grieving Syahu said, "As you have killed my child, I shall bind your womb." The daughter begged her sisters-in-law to take the curse in her place, and only the youngest agreed, accepting it for her. From then on, every child the youngest bahu bore died on the seventh day, until she had lost seven sons.

Heartbroken, she went to a pandit, who advised her: "Serve the Surahi cow with full devotion." She served the cow faithfully, and pleased with her, the cow set out with her across the seven seas to the Syahu. On the way, she saw a snake about to bite the young ones of a Garud Pankhni bird and killed it. The mother bird returned, thought the bahu had harmed her young, and pecked at her, but when she learned the truth she was grateful and carried the bahu and the cow to the Syahu.

The bahu served the Syahu with humility. Pleased by her devotion, the Syahu blessed her with seven sons and seven daughters-in-law, and her house was full again. The name Ahoi is understood as anhoni ko honi banana, making the impossible possible. Since that day, mothers have observed the Ahoi Ashtami fast to seek protection and long life for their children.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the evening puja:

• Wall Image: Geru (red ochre) for drawing Ahoi Mata in eight cells (Ashtak Koshthak) with the Syahu and her young (or an Ahoi embroidered on cloth, to hang on the wall)
• Kalash & Karwa: Wheat for the Chowki, a Kalash (or lota) filled with water with an earthen lid, the Karwa used on Karwa Chauth, and Sarai seenk (Sarai shoots) to stop its spout, with seven more Sarai shoots to offer
• Silver Syau: A silver Ahoi pendant (Syau) with two silver beads, strung on a thread
• Tilak & Lamps: Roli, Akshat (unbroken rice grains), flowers, and a Diya with Ghee
• Food Offerings (Naivedya): Milk with cooked rice (dudh-bhaat), Halwa, eight Puris and eight Pua (sweet fritters), and a bowl of rice, radish (mooli) and water chestnut (singhara) to place before the image
• For the Katha & Bayana: Seven grains of wheat, a bowl of Halwa, and money for the Bayana (a gift of respect) and Dakshina

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Morning Preparation and Sankalp

1. Wake up before sunrise, bathe, and wear clean clothes; do not wear black, blue or other dark colours.
2. Take a small amount of water in your right palm and take a Sankalp (solemn vow): "O Ahoi Mata, today I keep this fast without food or water for the long life and wellbeing of my children. Grant me the strength to fulfill this vow with pure devotion."
3. Keep the fast through the day without food or water, until the stars appear in the evening. Do not do any work with soil, do not hurt any creature, and do not break any green plant.

Step 2: Preparing the Puja Altar (Before Sunset)

1. Clean the place of worship and draw a Chowk (a ritual square design) on the floor.
2. Draw Ahoi Mata on the wall in Geru as an eight-celled figure, with the Syahu and her young (or hang the embroidered Ahoi cloth).
3. Spread wheat on a Chowki before the wall, set the water-filled Kalash on it, and cover it with an earthen lid.
4. Place the Karwa from Karwa Chauth on top and stop its spout with Sarai seenk.

Step 3: Performing the Evening Rituals

1. Lighting the Lamp: As the stars begin to appear, light a Ghee Diya before Ahoi Mata, who is revered as a form of Mata Parvati, together with Syahu Mata.
2. Applying Tilak: Apply Roli and Akshat to the image and to the silver Syau, offer the Syau a little milk, and draw a Satiya (auspicious swastika sign) on the water vessel.
3. Offering Flowers & Shoots: Offer fresh flowers, and offer seven Sarai shoots to Ahoi Mata and the Syahu.
4. Offering Naivedya: Place milk with cooked rice, Halwa, Puris and Pua before the image, and set the bowl of rice, radish and water chestnut beside them.

Step 4: Reciting the Vrat Katha

1. Keep the bowl of Halwa with money beside you as the Bayana, and hold seven grains of wheat with some Dakshina in your right hand.
2. Sit respectfully before the altar and recite or listen to the Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha with deep focus and devotion.
3. After the story, put on the Ahoi mala, the silver Syau with its beads (in western Uttar Pradesh, mothers add two beads to it every year).
4. Touch the feet of your mother-in-law, and give her the Bayana and the grains of wheat.

Step 5: Aarti and Arghya (Star Sighting)

1. Perform the Ahoi Mata Aarti, "Jai Ahoi Mata", using the lit Ghee lamp while singing devotional hymns.
2. Once the stars have appeared, step outside with the Karwa or the Kalash filled with water.
3. Offer Arghya by pouring water slowly toward the stars, praying for the longevity and happiness of your children (families who follow the custom of the Moon offer it to the Moon after moonrise, in the same way).

Step 6: Seeking Blessings and Breaking the Fast

1. Touch the feet of the elders in your family to seek their blessings (Charan Sparsh).
2. Break your fast with a simple sattvic meal (in some homes, mothers first drink water from their child's hand), and share the prasad with your family.
3. Give the Puris, Pua and Halwa offered in the puja, with Dakshina, to an elderly woman or a Brahmin.
4. Keep the water of the Karwa; on Diwali it is sprinkled through the house.

Puja Vidhi: Radha Kund Snan (Braj)

Who Should Do This Vrat?

• Couples Seeking a Child: Married couples, most often those without children, bathe together in Radha Kund to seek the blessings of Radha Rani for the gift of a child (Santan Prapti).
• Wives Keeping the Ahoi Vrat: The wife keeps the vrat of Ahoi Mata that day and worships Ahoi Devi at midnight at the kund.
• Couples Giving Thanks: Couples whose wish has been granted return to Radha Kund to take a thanksgiving dip.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Reaching the Kund: Pilgrims arrive at Radha Kund by evening and wait through the night for the bath.
• Deepdaan: Lamps are offered at the kunds before the bath.
• The Midnight Bath: The bath is taken at the midnight of Ahoi Ashtami night, in Nishita Kaal (around midnight), and Radha Kripa Kataksha is chanted as midnight strikes. The bathing continues through the night until the early hours. Check the Nishita Kaal for your city on this page.
• Thanksgiving Visit: Couples whose wish is granted return to Radha Kund later to bathe again in thanks.

About the Festival

Radha Kund Snan is a deeply revered observance of Braj, where married couples bathe together at midnight in Radha Kund, offer a white pumpkin (petha) and pray to Radha Rani for a child. It takes place on the Ashtami (eighth day) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik.

The Vrat Katha (Story of Chandrabhan and Chandrika)

Once upon a time, in a town near Jhansi, there lived a moneylender (sahukar) named Chandrabhan with his virtuous wife Chandrika. Every son and daughter born to them passed away in childhood, and the couple was left with no one to carry on their house.

Heartbroken that no child of theirs would remain, the two left their home to spend their last days in devotion. They walked until they reached Sheetal Kund near Badrika Ashram, and there they resolved to give up their lives without food. On the seventh day without food or water, a voice from the heavens (Akashvani) spoke to them: "Your sorrow comes from sins of the past. Chandrika, keep the vrat of Ahoi Mata on the Ashtami of Kartik Krishna Paksha, and on the day of the vrat, bathe in Radha Kund."

Chandrika followed the voice wholeheartedly. She kept the vrat of Ahoi Mata and bathed in Radha Kund with full devotion. When the couple returned, Ahoi Mata appeared before them and offered them a boon. They asked only that their children live long, and the Mother said, "Tathastu," so be it.

In time, the couple was blessed with sons who lived long lives. Since that day, couples have come to Radha Kund on Ahoi Ashtami night to bathe, seeking the blessing of a child.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the night's puja:

• Petha: A white pumpkin (Kushmanda), to be offered to Radha Rani
• Red Cloth: To dress the petha
• Lamps for Deepdaan: Diyas to be offered at the kunds before the bath
• Stotra: The Radha Kripa Kataksha, to chant at midnight

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Sankalp

1. Take a small amount of water in your right palm and take a Sankalp (solemn vow): "O Radha Rani, we come to your kund on this Ahoi Ashtami night, praying for the gift of a child. Grant us the strength to complete this vow with pure devotion."
2. The wife keeps the vrat of Ahoi Mata through the day, as Chandrika did in the katha.

Step 2: Reaching Radha Kund (Evening)

1. Travel to Radha Kund in Braj and arrive by evening.
2. Many devotees walk the Giriraj parikrama (the circuit around Govardhan) on the way.
3. Go to the kund, where Radha Kund and Shyam Kund meet, and wait there for midnight.

Step 3: Deepdaan and Radha Kripa Kataksha

1. Before the bath, light your lamps and offer them at the kund (Deepdaan).
2. Sit quietly by the water, with your mind turned to Radha Rani.
3. As midnight strikes, chant the Radha Kripa Kataksha together.

Step 4: The Midnight Bath (Nishita Kaal)

1. After sighting the Moon (Chandra Darshan), enter the water together, husband and wife.
2. Bathe together at the meeting point of Radha Kund and Shyam Kund.
3. Stand in the water with folded hands and keep your wish for a child in your heart.

Step 5: Offering the Petha and Praying to Radha Rani

1. Dressing the Petha: Wrap the white pumpkin in the red cloth.
2. Offering to Radha Rani: Standing in the water, offer the petha to Radha Rani and pray for a child.
3. Floating the Petha: Let the petha float away in the water of the kund as your gift.
4. Worshipping Ahoi Devi: The wife worships Ahoi Devi at midnight.

Step 6: Seeking Blessings and Giving Thanks

1. Bow once more to Radha Rani at the kund, thanking her for her grace.
2. If your wish is granted, return to Radha Kund later and take a thanksgiving dip.