Ahoi Ashtami 2013
Mothers fast for their children, breaking it at star-rise.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:02
- Sunset17:21
- Fasting window (tithi)2013-10-26 · 16:03 → 18:20
- Parana (tithi ends)18:20
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 2013
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2013
- Vasant Panchami — 15 February 2013
- Maha Shivaratri — 10 March 2013
- Holika Dahan — 26 March 2013
- Holi — 28 March 2013
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 11 April 2013
- Ram Navami — 19 April 2013
- Akshaya Tritiya — 12 May 2013
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 10 July 2013
- Guru Purnima — 22 July 2013
- Nag Panchami — 12 August 2013
- Raksha Bandhan — 21 August 2013
- Krishna Janmashtami — 28 August 2013
- Hartalika Teej — 8 September 2013
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 9 September 2013
- Anant Chaturdashi — 18 September 2013
- Pitru Paksha begins — 20 September 2013
- Sharad Navratri begins — 5 October 2013
- Durga Ashtami — 12 October 2013
- Maha Navami — 13 October 2013
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 13 October 2013
- Karwa Chauth — 22 October 2013
- Dhanteras — 1 November 2013
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 2 November 2013
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 3 November 2013
- Govardhan Puja — 4 November 2013
- Bhai Dooj — 5 November 2013
- Chhath Puja — 8 November 2013
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 17 November 2013
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 17 November 2013
- Hindu Festivals 2013 →