Ahoi Ashtami 2025 is a sacred Hindu festival that celebrates the eternal bond between a mother and her children. This auspicious day, celebrated on Monday, October 13, 2025, holds great significance for mothers who fast and pray for the longevity, prosperity and well-being of their sons and daughters. Ahoi Ashtami, falling eight days before Diwali and four days after Karva Chauth, is a day of devotion, repentance and love. Women observe a strict fast from dawn to dusk, and break it only after seeing the stars or the moon, while offering heartfelt prayers to Ahoi Mata, the goddess who is the divine protector of children.
date and puja muhurat
According to Drik Panchang, date: Monday, October 13, 2025
Add Zee News as favorite source
Ahoi Ashtami Puja Muhurat: 05:50 PM to 07:05 PM
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Visibility of stars (evening): 06:14 pm
Krishna Dashami Moonrise on Ahoi Ashtami: 11:16 pm
Ashtami Tithi starts: October 13, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Ashtami Tithi ends: October 14, 2025 at 11:09 am
special event: Govardhan Radha Kund bath on Monday, 13 October 2025
Importance of Ahoi Ashtami 2025
According to Drik Panchang, Ahoi Ashtami is a sacred Hindu festival celebrated by mothers across India for the well-being, prosperity and long life of their children. Traditionally, this fast was observed only for sons, but in modern times, it is observed for both sons and daughters, symbolizing the mother’s unconditional love.
On this day, women observe a strict fast, abstaining from food and even water from morning till evening. The fast is broken after seeing the stars in the evening. However, in some traditions, women wait for the moon to rise to end their fast – although the moon appears late at night, around 11:16 pm, making it difficult to observe.
Ahoi Ashtami falls eight days before Diwali Puja and four days after Karva Chauth. This festival is particularly popular in North India, and is also known as Ahoi Aathe, as it is celebrated on the Ashtami tithi (eighth day) of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik.
Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha – Story of a mother and her seven sons
According to Drik Panchang, once upon a time, there lived a kind and devoted woman with seven sons in a village near a dense forest. As the festival of Diwali approached, she decided to repair and decorate her house. She went into the forest to collect soil for the restoration. While digging, he accidentally kills some baby hedgehogs with his hoe.
The woman deeply repented for her unknowing act. Within a year, all seven of his sons disappeared, believed to have been killed by wild animals. Grief-stricken, he shares his grief with an elderly woman, confessing the sin of accidentally killing the Hoglets.
The old woman advised him to worship Goddess Ahoi Bhagwati, incarnation of Goddess Parvati and atone for his sin by making the image of Hoglet and fasting on the Ashtami Tithi of Kartik month.
Repenting her mistake, the woman fasted and prayed to Goddess Ahoi with a true heart. Pleased with his devotion, Ahoi Mata appeared and blessed him with the long life of his sons. Miraculously, all seven sons returned home safely. Since then, it became a tradition for mothers to observe Ahoi Ashtami fast every year for the well-being of their children.
Ahoi Ashtami Puja Vidhi or Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Vidhi
Ahoi Ashtami fast is observed on Krishna Paksha Ashtami, about eight days before Diwali.
According to Drik Panchang (prevailing in North India), it falls in the month of Kartik.
According to the Amanta calendar (followed in Gujarat, Maharashtra and southern states), it falls in the month of Ashwin.
Although the names of the months are different, the fasting day is the same.
This fast and puja is dedicated to Mata Ahoi, also known as Goddess Ahoi Bhagwati, who is worshiped as the protector of children.
Step by Step Ahoi Ashtami Puja Process
1. Pledge
After morning bath, women take Sankalp – a pledge to keep the fast for the well-being of their children. They also announce their intention to observe Nirjala Vrat (without food and water), as per family tradition, and to break it only after seeing the stars or the moon.
2. Preparation for puja
Before sunset (during the evening), women prepare for the puja.
A picture of Goddess Ahoi is made on the wall or a poster/wallpaper is used.
The image should include Ahoi Mata with eight corners (Ashta Kosthak), which symbolizes Ashtami Tithi.
Also, Sei (hedgehog) and his children are also depicted, as they are associated with the legend of the festival.
Some depictions also include the story’s seven sons and their daughters-in-law.
3. Pooja
Roli (vermilion), rice, milk and water are offered to Ahoi Mata during the puja. Ahoi Ashtami story is read with devotion. Women pray for forgiveness, express gratitude and seek blessings for the long and happy lives of their children.
4. Breaking the fast
After seeing the stars at 6:14 pm, the women offered water to them and broke their fast. Some people, as per family customs, wait for moonrise at 11:16 pm before ending the fast.
Ahoi Ashtami 2025 is a festival that beautifully reflects the bond of love between a mother and her children. It teaches the lessons of repentance, devotion and unconditional love. As mothers fast and pray under the evening sky, the twinkling stars become symbols of divine protection – a reminder that Ahoy Mata’s blessings protect every child with eternal love and light.
(This article is for your general information only. Zee News does not confirm its accuracy or reliability.)