If you don’t know what Ahoi Ashtami is – this is the blog you will need. It is basically is a Hindu festival celebrated about 8 days before Diwali on Krishna Paksha Ashtami. Ahoi Ashtami falls during the month of Kartik, for the North Indian states, and during the month of Ashvin, for the South Indian states. Also, Ahoi Mata is none other than Goddess Parvati.
There is fasting and puja performed on Ahoi Ashtami, which are dedicated to Mata Ahoi or Goddess Ahoi. She is worshiped by mothers for the well-being and long life of their children. It is during these days of fasting and after taking a morning bath, women take a pledge, called Sankalp, to keep the fast for the well-being of their children. It is also recited during Sankalp that the fasting would be without any food or water and the fast would be broken after sighting the stars or the moon according to their family tradition. The important thing to know about this puja is that the puja preparations are finished before sunset. Along with that, the image of Ahoi Mata used for the puja should have Ashtha Koshthak i.e. eight corners due to the festival being associated with Ashtami Tithi. The image includes along with Goddess Ahoi, the images of young children and a lion. Other than this there are food items that are used in Puja include 8 Puri, 8 Pua, and Halwa. These food items are given to a Brahmin along with some money.
In addition to Ahoi Ashtami, there is Krishnaashtami. When a woman, who does not have children fast and performs all prayers and rituals of Ahoi Ashtami, it is called Krishnashtami after God Krishna. The sole purpose behind this is to ask for a child, and Goddess Kushmanda is worshiped, for this purpose.
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