Ahoi Ashtami 2026 is on Sunday, 1 November 2026. Mothers keep a day-long fast for the long life and wellbeing of their children, worship Ahoi Mata in the evening, and break the fast after sighting the stars, which in Delhi is at about 6:00 PM. The puja muhurat in Delhi is about 5:36 PM to 6:54 PM. Families who wait for the moon will break the fast much later, as the moon rises close to midnight.
Ahoi Ashtami 2026: date and timings
| Time (New Delhi) | |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, 1 November 2026 |
| Ashtami tithi begins | about 2:51 PM, 1 November |
| Ashtami tithi ends | about 1:10 PM, 2 November |
| Puja muhurat | about 5:36 PM to 6:54 PM |
| Star sighting (sanjh) | about 6:00 PM |
| Moonrise | about 11:35 PM to 11:40 PM |
Timings shift by city, often by 10 to 30 minutes. In the east (Kolkata, Patna) the stars appear earlier; in the west (Mumbai, Ahmedabad) later. Check your local panchang or the city table in our book.
Free PDF guide
Ahoi Ashtami 2026: Quick Guide
Date and star time, a samagri checklist, the puja in 7 steps and the katha in short: 7 phone-friendly pages. Enter your email and the download appears right here.
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What is Ahoi Ashtami?
Ahoi Ashtami falls on Kartik Krishna Ashtami, the eighth day of the waning moon in Kartik (Purnimanta calendar). It is observed mostly in North India: Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It comes three days after Karva Chauth and about a week before Diwali, which is why it is also called Ahoi Aathe.
Ahoi Mata is worshipped as a protective form of Goddess Parvati, the guardian of children. The fast was traditionally kept for sons, but today most mothers keep it for all their children, daughters and sons alike, and name each child while offering water to the stars.
Stars or the moon: when do you break the fast?
Both are traditional. Most families break the fast after sighting the stars in the early evening. Some follow an older custom of waiting for the moon, which on this night rises very late. Follow your family's practice. If it is cloudy, many families break the fast at the expected time of star sighting, or after offering arghya in the direction of the sky.
Ahoi Ashtami puja vidhi: step by step
- Sankalp at sunrise. Bathe early and take the vow of the fast before Ahoi Mata, stating your intention for your children's wellbeing.
- Keep the fast. Traditionally it is nirjala (without water). Many women today keep a gentler fast with water or fruit; do what your health allows.
- Prepare Ahoi Mata. In the afternoon, draw Ahoi Mata on the wall with geru or roli, with the syahu (porcupine) and her young beside her, or use a printed image.
- Set up the puja. Place a karva (pot) of water, a lamp, roli, rice, sweets and the food offering before the image. Many families also keep a syahu mala of silver beads, adding a bead each year.
- Evening puja. In the muhurat, worship Ahoi Mata with roli, rice and flowers, offer the food, and read or listen to the Ahoi Mata vrat katha.
- Arghya to the stars. When the stars appear, offer water from the karva to the stars and pray for your children.
- Break the fast with water and then a simple meal, often the prasad of the puja.
Many families keep the water in the karva until Diwali and use it on the day of Diwali, and some keep the fast every year and later perform an udyapan to complete the vow.
Samagri checklist
Ahoi Mata image or geru for drawing, karva with water, diya and ghee, roli, akshat (rice), flowers, sweets or the traditional puas and halwa, food offering (often puri, halwa and chana), a syahu mala if your family uses one, and a small amount of money or dakshina for an elder.
The Ahoi Mata katha, in short
A woman went to the forest to dig clay to plaster her house before Diwali. While digging, her spade accidentally killed the young of a syahu (porcupine). Grief-stricken by the harm she had caused, she later lost her own children. On the advice of the elders she fasted and prayed to Ahoi Mata on Kartik Krishna Ashtami, asking forgiveness. Pleased by her remorse and devotion, Ahoi Mata blessed her, and her children were restored. The story is told to remind mothers that care for all life, and sincere repentance, protect one's own. There is a second, shorter katha that many families also read.
The complete Ahoi Ashtami book
Ahoi Ashtami Vrat 2026 has everything in one clear guide: the 2026 date with sunset, star-sighting and moonrise times for 20 Indian cities, the star rule and moon rule (and what to do if it's cloudy), how to draw Ahoi Mata, the full vrat vidhi, both kathas retold simply, the prayers and arghya mantras with meaning, and the udyapan. Every mantra in Devanagari, Roman transliteration and English. Instant PDF, ₹199.
Keeping Karva Chauth on 29 October too? See our Karva Chauth 2026 guide, and our Diwali 2026 puja guide for the week after.
Frequently asked questions
What is the date of Ahoi Ashtami in 2026?
Ahoi Ashtami 2026 is on Sunday, 1 November 2026. The Ashtami tithi begins at about 2:51 PM that afternoon, so the evening puja is on 1 November.
What time will the stars be visible on Ahoi Ashtami 2026?
In New Delhi, the stars are expected at about 6:00 PM. Times differ by city, usually by 10 to 30 minutes.
What time is moonrise on Ahoi Ashtami 2026?
Around 11:35 PM to 11:40 PM in New Delhi. That is why most families break the fast at the stars instead.
Can Ahoi Ashtami be kept for daughters?
Yes. Although it was traditionally kept for sons, today mothers keep it for all their children and name each child during the arghya.
How is Ahoi Ashtami different from Karva Chauth?
Karva Chauth is a wife's fast for her husband, broken after seeing the moon. Ahoi Ashtami is a mother's fast for her children, usually broken after seeing the stars. Ahoi Ashtami falls three days after Karva Chauth.
General guidance on a traditional observance, not medical advice. If you are pregnant or have a health condition, please speak to a doctor before fasting. Customs vary between families; follow yours.