Date: Monday, 13 October 2025
Puja Muhurat: 5:53 PM to 7:08 PM IST
Star Sighting (to break fast): Around 6:17 PM IST
Moonrise: Around 11:20 PM IST
What is Ahoi Ashtami
Ahoi Ashtami is a significant Hindu festival celebrated by mothers for the well-being, long life, and prosperity of their children. It falls on the Ashtami Tithi (eighth day) of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in the Hindu month of Kartik, approximately a week before Diwali and a few days after Karwa Chauth.
The festival is marked by a day-long fast, evening puja, and rituals focused on the sighting of stars or the moon. It is a day that celebrates the devotion of mothers, the strength of family bonds, and the grace of the divine feminine energy represented by Ahoi Mata.
The Legend and Historical Significance
According to ancient belief, a mother of seven sons accidentally killed a lion cub while digging soil for her household chores. Soon after, her family faced misfortunes and the untimely deaths of her sons. Distraught, she prayed earnestly to Goddess Parvati, who appeared before her as Ahoi Mata. The goddess forgave her and restored the lives of her children.
Since then, women have observed the Ahoi Ashtami fast to seek Ahoi Mata’s blessings for their children’s health and protection. The word “Ahoi” means “that which prevents harm,” signifying the divine power that shields children from danger.
Spiritual Importance of Ahoi Ashtami
Ahoi Ashtami represents the ideals of devotion, sacrifice, and maternal love. The festival emphasizes:
The value of prayer and penance for the welfare of loved ones
The nurturing and protective role of mothers
The unity and strength of the family
The significance of purity, forgiveness, and faith
The day also marks the beginning of the Diwali season, when spiritual energy and positivity are believed to be at their peak.
Key Timings for Ahoi Ashtami 2025
The important timings for observing Ahoi Ashtami in 2025 are as follows:
Ahoi Ashtami Date: Monday, 13 October 2025
Ashtami Tithi Begins: 12:24 PM on 13 October 2025
Ashtami Tithi Ends: 11:09 AM on 14 October 2025
Puja Muhurat (Ahoi Mata Puja Time): 5:53 PM to 7:08 PM IST
Star Sighting (for breaking the fast): Around 6:17 PM IST
Moonrise Time: Around 11:20 PM IST
These timings are based on the Drik Panchang and may slightly vary depending on geographical location.
City-wise Star Rise Timings
The star sighting time to break the Ahoi Ashtami fast in 2025 will vary slightly across different parts of India, depending on geographical location and local visibility conditions. Below are the approximate timings for major regions:
Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara: Around 6:20 PM IST
Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Bhopal, Indore, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Amritsar, Raipur, and Ujjain: Around 6:17 PM IST
Kolkata, Chennai, Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack: Between 6:08 PM and 6:10 PM IST
Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, and Gwalior: Between 6:10 PM and 6:17 PM IST
Northeastern India (including Guwahati, Kohima, Dibrugarh, Imphal, Shillong, and nearby regions): Between 6:05 PM and 6:06 PM IST
Note: Exact timings may vary slightly depending on local visibility and atmospheric conditions.
Ahoi Ashtami Puja Vidhi (Worship Procedure)
Morning Rituals
Devotees wake up before sunrise, bathe, and clean the prayer area.
A clay or silver pot (Kalash) filled with water is placed near an image or drawing of Ahoi Mata on the wall.
Some families draw seven dots around the goddess, symbolizing seven sons or blessings for children.
Fasting
Mothers observe a strict nirjala vrat, abstaining from food and water throughout the day.
The fast is undertaken with prayers for the health and happiness of their children.
Evening Puja
The Ahoi Mata Puja is performed during the Muhurat between 5:53 PM and 7:08 PM.
Offerings of rice, flowers, sweets, fruits, and water are made to Ahoi Mata.
The Ahoi Ashtami Katha (story) is read or narrated to all family members.
Lamps (diyas) are lit, and special prayers are offered for family prosperity.
Breaking the Fast
The fast is typically broken after the appearance of the stars, around 6:17 PM.
Water is offered to the stars before eating or drinking.
In some traditions, women wait until the moonrise around 11:20 PM, though this is less common due to the late hour.
Offerings and Donations
Common offerings include kheer (rice pudding), fruits, wheat grains, jaggery, and homemade sweets.
Flowers such as marigold and hibiscus are considered auspicious.
Charity, especially donations to children or mothers, is believed to bring additional blessings.
Temples Associated with Ahoi Mata
Although the festival is usually celebrated at home, several temples conduct special pujas and community gatherings on Ahoi Ashtami, including:
Ahoi Mata Mandir, Delhi - Known for its grand Ashtami celebrations and community puja.
Parvati Temple, Varanasi - Devotees offer prayers along with Ganga Jal during Ahoi Mata worship.
Ahoi Mata Shrines in Ujjain and Mathura - Known for devotional songs and fairs.
Shakti Peeth Temples such as Kamakhya (Assam), Vindhyachal (Uttar Pradesh), and Jwalamukhi (Himachal Pradesh) - These powerful centers of goddess worship hold special prayers for the divine mother.
Health and Spiritual Benefits of Fasting
Spiritual Cleansing - Fasting purifies the mind and body and strengthens inner discipline.
Detoxification - Abstaining from food and water helps in physical cleansing and revitalization.
Emotional Balance - Prayer and meditation during fasting foster calmness and mental clarity.
Strengthened Family Bonds - The collective observance of rituals deepens emotional connections within families.
Positive Energy - Chanting and lighting diyas during the puja promote spiritual harmony at home.
Astrological Importance and Dosha Remedies
Observing Ahoi Ashtami helps reduce the effects of Putra Dosha or Santana Dosha (planetary combinations that affect progeny).
It is considered highly beneficial for those whose charts show afflictions from Rahu or Ketu in the fifth house.
Devotees are encouraged to chant “Om Hreem Ahoiyai Namah” 108 times during the puja for divine protection and blessings.
Traditional Decorations and Family Observances
Families decorate their homes with rangoli, lamps, and colorful thalis. Children often participate by helping draw Ahoi Mata’s image or arranging the puja setup. The evening concludes with storytelling, reading of the Ahoi Vrat Katha, and sharing of family meals and sweets once the fast is broken.
Ahoi Ashtami 2025 is a festival of faith, love, and devotion. It is not just a ritual but a heartfelt expression of a mother’s prayer for her children’s well-being and happiness. The fast, puja, and evening rituals together remind us of the timeless bond between parent and child, the strength of feminine divinity, and the beauty of gratitude.
As lamps are lit and prayers offered to Ahoi Mata on October 13, 2025, may every home be blessed with health, harmony, and prosperity.
