Ahoi Ashtami 1963
Mothers fast for their children, breaking it at star-rise.
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Ahoi Ashtami puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaAhoi Ashtami — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ahoi Ashtami kept?
On the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha in Kartika, eight days before Diwali and about four days after Karwa Chauth. This year's date is shown above.
Is the fast broken at the stars or the moon?
Traditionally at the sighting of the stars (the Saptarishi cluster), with arghya offered from the karwa. In parts of Punjab and Haryana it is broken at moonrise instead, which comes much later at night.
Who keeps the Ahoi Ashtami vrat?
Mothers keep it for the long life and wellbeing of their children. Women who wish for a child also keep it, praying to Ahoi Mata, a form of Parvati as the guardian of children.
What is the silver Syau?
A small string of silver beads representing the goddess, worshipped with the Ahoi image. A bead is often added each year and the string is passed down within the family; it is kept whole.
Other major festivals in 1963
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1963
- Vasant Panchami — 30 January 1963
- Maha Shivaratri — 22 February 1963
- Holika Dahan — 9 March 1963
- Holi — 11 March 1963
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 26 March 1963
- Ram Navami — 2 April 1963
- Akshaya Tritiya — 26 April 1963
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 23 June 1963
- Guru Purnima — 6 July 1963
- Nag Panchami — 25 July 1963
- Raksha Bandhan — 5 August 1963
- Hartalika Teej — 22 August 1963
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 23 August 1963
- Anant Chaturdashi — 2 September 1963
- Pitru Paksha begins — 4 September 1963
- Sharad Navratri begins — 18 September 1963
- Durga Ashtami — 26 September 1963
- Maha Navami — 27 September 1963
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 28 September 1963
- Hindu Festivals 1963 →