Ahoi Ashtami 2017
Mothers fast for their children, breaking it at star-rise.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:54
- Sunset17:34
- Fasting window (tithi)06:56 → 2017-10-13 · 05:00
- Parana (tithi ends)05:002017-10-13
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 2017
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2017
- Vasant Panchami — 1 February 2017
- Maha Shivaratri — 24 February 2017
- Holika Dahan — 12 March 2017
- Holi — 13 March 2017
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 28 March 2017
- Ram Navami — 4 April 2017
- Akshaya Tritiya — 28 April 2017
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 25 June 2017
- Guru Purnima — 9 July 2017
- Nag Panchami — 28 July 2017
- Raksha Bandhan — 7 August 2017
- Krishna Janmashtami — 14 August 2017
- Hartalika Teej — 24 August 2017
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 25 August 2017
- Anant Chaturdashi — 5 September 2017
- Pitru Paksha begins — 7 September 2017
- Sharad Navratri begins — 21 September 2017
- Durga Ashtami — 28 September 2017
- Maha Navami — 29 September 2017
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 30 September 2017
- Karwa Chauth — 8 October 2017
- Dhanteras — 17 October 2017
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 18 October 2017
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 19 October 2017
- Govardhan Puja — 20 October 2017
- Bhai Dooj — 21 October 2017
- Chhath Puja — 26 October 2017
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 4 November 2017
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 4 November 2017
- Hindu Festivals 2017 →