Observed to seek longevity, sound health, and overall well-being for children, the festival of Ahoi Ashtami is being celebrated with traditional reverence. On this day, mothers undertake a strict fast throughout the daytime and organize evening prayers following established rituals dedicated to Ahoi Mata. Devotional beliefs hold that venerating Ahoi Mata helps remove hurdles from the lives of children while ushering peace, prosperity, and harmony into the household. A central highlight of this religious occasion is the sacred ritual of sighting and worshipping the evening stars.
Puja Timetable and Evening Muhurat
A specific evening window has been earmarked for performing the central religious rites of the festival. The auspicious period for conducting the main prayer rituals of Ahoi Mata is scheduled from 5:36 PM to 6:54 PM. During this auspicious timeframe, devotees perform the ceremonial worship before concluding the fast with celestial viewings. Following the primary prayer rituals, women prepare to offer sacred water as soon as the celestial bodies appear in the twilight sky. The estimated time for the first sighting of stars is around 6:01 PM in the evening.
Offering Arghya to Stars and Breaking the Fast
Custom requires fasting mothers to gaze upon the newly visible stars in the dusk sky and offer water from a sacred vessel while reciting prayers for their progeny's prosperous journey and enduring life. The strict fast is formally concluded only after this water offering is successfully carried out. While the designated sighting time serves as a general marker across regions such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, actual visibility can vary by a few minutes depending on local cloud cover, atmosphere, and prevailing weather conditions. Devout participation in these rituals brings spiritual contentment and maternal blessings.
