Ahoi Ashtami 2026अहोई अष्टमी

When is Ahoi Ashtami?

Observed on Krishna Ashtami, Kartik month (Ashvin in amanta). Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Ahoi Ashtami means

Ahoi Ashtami falls on the eighth day of the dark half of Kartik in the North Indian calendar (Ashvin in the amanta calendar) — four days after Karva Chauth and eight days before Diwali. Mothers keep a fast from dawn until the stars appear in the evening, praying to Ahoi Mata for the long life, health and well-being of their children.

Ahoi Mata is a form of Parvati as the protecting mother. In the traditional wall-drawing she appears with the syahu (porcupine) and its cubs — the image at the centre of her story — and with seven sons, the children she protects.

Where Karva Chauth is a wife's fast for her husband, Ahoi Ashtami is a mother's fast for her children. Many mothers today keep it for daughters as well as sons, and the prayer extends to all children.

The story of Ahoi Ashtami

A woman with seven sons went to dig clay near a forest to plaster her house before Diwali. By mistake her spade killed a cub of a syahu (porcupine) in its burrow. The mother porcupine cursed her, and within a year all seven of her sons died.

Grief-stricken, she told the women of the village, who advised her to draw the image of Ahoi Mata with the syahu and its cubs on her wall and to fast and pray for forgiveness on Kartik Krishna Ashtami. She did so with a sincere heart, year after year; Ahoi Mata was pleased and her sons were restored to life. Ever since, mothers fast on this day for their children.

📖 Read the full Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha — Hindi & English

Ahoi Ashtami puja vidhi, step by step

How Ahoi Ashtami is usually kept in North Indian homes. Customs differ — some break the fast at starrise, others at moonrise.

What you need

• A drawing of Ahoi Mata, the syahu and seven sons on the wall (with geru or kumkum), or a printed Ahoi calendar
• A karva or kalash of water
• Roli, akshat, flowers, a diya and incense
• Naivedya: puri, halwa, pua, and seven-grain or fruit offerings
• A silver Ahoi pendant (syau) strung on a thread, in families that keep it
• Baya — sweets and a gift for the mother-in-law

When to do the puja

In 2026 Ahoi Ashtami falls on Sunday, 1 November; in 2027, on Friday, 22 October. The puja is done in the evening (pradosh); the fast is broken after the stars are seen. Check the Panchang for your city. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Dawn. Bathe and take a sankalp for the fast, praying for your children.
2. Draw Ahoi Mata. Draw or put up the image of Ahoi Mata with the syahu and its cubs.
3. Evening puja. Worship Ahoi Mata with roli, akshat, flowers and a diya, place the karva of water beside her, and offer puri, halwa and pua.
4. Katha. Hear the Ahoi Mata katha; give the baya to your mother-in-law and touch her feet.
5. Starrise. When the stars appear, offer water (arghya) to them from the karva and break the fast.

Offerings & food: Puri, halwa, pua, a karva of water, silver Ahoi pendant (syau) in some families, gifts for the mother-in-law

Mantras for Ahoi Ashtami

Ahoi Ashtami across India

Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh; Radha Kund snan in Braj

Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana

Mothers draw Ahoi Mata on the wall with geru, gather for the katha and break the fast at starrise.

Braj (Radha Kund, Govardhan)

At midnight, couples praying for a child bathe in Radha Kund, a tradition linked with Radha's grace; huge crowds gather.

Punjab and Rajasthan

The silver syau pendant is worshipped and worn, with a bead added for each child.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Temples to visit for Ahoi Ashtami

Banke Bihari TempleVrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

Frequently asked questions