Ahoi Ashtami 2014
Mothers fast for their children, breaking it at star-rise.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:56
- Sunset17:30
- Fasting window (tithi)2014-10-15 · 11:47 → 13:46
- Parana (tithi ends)13:46
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 2014
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2014
- Vasant Panchami — 4 February 2014
- Maha Shivaratri — 27 February 2014
- Holika Dahan — 16 March 2014
- Holi — 17 March 2014
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 31 March 2014
- Ram Navami — 8 April 2014
- Akshaya Tritiya — 1 May 2014
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 29 June 2014
- Guru Purnima — 12 July 2014
- Nag Panchami — 1 August 2014
- Raksha Bandhan — 10 August 2014
- Krishna Janmashtami — 17 August 2014
- Hartalika Teej — 28 August 2014
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 29 August 2014
- Anant Chaturdashi — 8 September 2014
- Pitru Paksha begins — 9 September 2014
- Sharad Navratri begins — 25 September 2014
- Durga Ashtami — 2 October 2014
- Maha Navami — 3 October 2014
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 3 October 2014
- Karwa Chauth — 11 October 2014
- Dhanteras — 21 October 2014
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 22 October 2014
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 23 October 2014
- Govardhan Puja — 24 October 2014
- Bhai Dooj — 25 October 2014
- Chhath Puja — 29 October 2014
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 6 November 2014
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 6 November 2014
- Hindu Festivals 2014 →