Ahoi Ashtami 2009
Mothers fast for their children, breaking it at star-rise.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:54
- Sunset17:35
- Fasting window (tithi)03:25 → 2009-10-12 · 01:27
- Parana (tithi ends)01:272009-10-12
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 2009
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2009
- Vasant Panchami — 31 January 2009
- Maha Shivaratri — 23 February 2009
- Holika Dahan — 10 March 2009
- Holi — 12 March 2009
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 27 March 2009
- Ram Navami — 3 April 2009
- Akshaya Tritiya — 27 April 2009
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 24 June 2009
- Guru Purnima — 7 July 2009
- Nag Panchami — 26 July 2009
- Raksha Bandhan — 5 August 2009
- Krishna Janmashtami — 13 August 2009
- Hartalika Teej — 23 August 2009
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 23 August 2009
- Anant Chaturdashi — 3 September 2009
- Pitru Paksha begins — 5 September 2009
- Sharad Navratri begins — 19 September 2009
- Durga Ashtami — 26 September 2009
- Maha Navami — 27 September 2009
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 28 September 2009
- Karwa Chauth — 7 October 2009
- Dhanteras — 15 October 2009
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 17 October 2009
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 17 October 2009
- Govardhan Puja — 19 October 2009
- Bhai Dooj — 20 October 2009
- Chhath Puja — 24 October 2009
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 2 November 2009
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 2 November 2009
- Hindu Festivals 2009 →