Ahoi Ashtami | Ahoi Aathe

Ahoi Ashtami | Ahoi Aathe

Ahoi Ashtami is a Hindu festival celebrated about 8 days before Diwali. Ahoi Ashtami Vrat is dedicated to Mata Ahoi for the well-being and long life of their children.

It is a very popular festival in North India where mothers keep a whole day fast for the well-being of their sons. It is similar to Karwa Chauth and is observed on the eighth day during the dark fortnight of Kartik month. This fast is from morning to sighting of stars in the sky.

Ahoi Ashtami falls on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

This fast is specifically meant for mothers who have sons. But nowadays women keep fast for daughters also. Mothers keep fast the whole day and offer prayers to Ahoi Mata for the well-being of their children, women of the neighborhood gather for the puja in the afternoon or an hour before sunset to do puja. A painting of Ahoi Mata is made on the wall or a picture is kept and a pitcher of water is placed on the left side of the Ahoi Mata picture.

The jug or bowl containing water is covered using a red-colored thread. Turmeric and kumkum are smeared on the thread. Locally available Grains are placed on a tray or plate and are kept in front of the picture of Ahoi Mata. Prasad or food offerings that are made are also placed in front of the idol. Many stories are associated with this festival which relates to asking for wishes and blessings for their sons.

Ahoi Ashtami vrat

Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha in Hindi

एक समय की बात है किसी गांव में एक साहूकार रहता था। उसके सात बेटे थे। दीपावली से पहले साहूकार की पत्नी घर की पुताई करने के लिए मिट्टी लेने खदान गई। वहां वह कुदाल से मिट्टी खोदने लगी। दैवयोग से साहूकार की पत्नी को उसी स्थान पर एक “साही” की मांद दिखाई दी। अचानक कुदाल स्त्री के हाथों से “साही” के बच्चे को लग गई, जिससे उसकी मृत्यु हो गई। “साही” के बच्चे की मौत का साहूकारनी को बहुत दुख हुआ। परंतु वह अब कर भी क्या सकती थी, वह पश्चाताप करती हुई अपने घर लौट आई।

कुछ समय बाद सहूकारनी के एक बेटे की मृत्यु हो गई। इसके बाद लगातार उसके सातों बेटों की मौत हो गई। इससे वह बहुत दुखी रहने लगी। एक दिन उसने अपनी एक पड़ोसी को “साही” के बच्चे की मौत की घटना कह सुनाई और बताया कि उसने जानबूझ कर कभी कोई पाप नहीं किया। यह हत्या उससे गलती से हुई थी जिसके परिणाम स्वरूप उसके सातों बेटों की मौत हो गई। यह बात जब सबको पता चली तो गांव की वृद्ध औरतों ने साहूकार की पत्नी को दिलासा दिया।

वृद्ध औरतों साहूकार की पत्नी को चुप करवाया और कहने लगी आज जो बात तुमने सबको बताई है, इससे तुम्हारा आधा पाप नष्ट हो गया है। इसके साथ ही, उन्होंने साहूकारनी को अष्टमी के दिन भगवती माता तथा “साही” और “साही” के बच्चों का चित्र बनाकर उनकी आराधना करने को कहा। इस प्रकार क्षमा याचना करने से तुम्हारे सारे पाप धुल जाएंगे और कष्ट दूर हो जाएंगे।

साहूकार की पत्नी उनकी बात मानते हुए कार्तिक मास की कृष्ण पक्ष की अष्टमी को व्रत रखा व विधि पूर्वक पूजा कर क्षमा याचना की। इसी प्रकार उसने प्रतिवर्ष नियमित रूप से इस व्रत का पालन किया। जिसके बाद उसे सात पुत्र रत्नों की प्राप्ति हुई। तभी से अहोई व्रत की परम्परा चली आ रही है।

Ahoa Ashtami

Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha in English

Once upon a time, there lived a woman in a village. She had seven sons. One day she went to the forest to bring soil for the renovation and painting of her home (this was in the month of kartik just before the Hindu festival Deepawali). She started digging soil with axe nearby a den. Suddenly the woman’s axe fell on the cub in the den and the cub died. The woman felt very sorry and sympathetic. She took soil from the forest and came back.

A few days later, all her seven sons died within a year. She was very sad. One day she narrated her woes to old ladies in her village, she was crying and told them that she didn’t commit the sin and it happened unintentionally. She narrated to the ladies that once when she was digging for the soil in the forest her ax fell on the cub and thereafter within a year all my seven sons died. The ladies appreciated for confessing her guilt and then these ladies told that by confessing the sin she has atoned her half of the sin.

They suggested the woman pray the goddess Ashtami Bhagwati by sketching the face of the cub. By the grace of God, your sin will cast off. The woman kept fast on the Kartik Krishna Ashtami and then onwards she started praying and keeping fast regularly. By the power of her prayer, God’s grace showered and she could get back her all seven sons. Since then, it became a ritual to worship the goddess Ahoi Ashtami Bhagwati religiously every year.

Aarti for Ahoi Mata

Aarti
Aarti for Ahoi Mata

Ahoi Ashtami 2022: Wishes, Quotes, Messages, Facebook post & Whatsapp status

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Simmi Kamboj

Simmi Kamboj is the Founder and Administrator of Ritiriwaz, your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Tradition. She had a passion for writing about India's lifestyle, culture, tradition, travel, and is trying to cover all Indian Cultural aspects of Daily Life.