Ahoi Ashtami Fast (Vrat) - Indian Festival

Ahoi Ashtami is celebrated 8days before Deepavali on Krishna Paksha Ashtami, in the month of Kartik. It is a Hindu festival, primarily popular in North India. On this day, women fast and pray for the long lives of their children to Ahoi Mata, who is goddess Parvati herself.

Practices

• After having a bath, women take the Sankalp of fast. Women worship the image of Goddess Ahoi, and the image must have the Astha koshtak or eight corners. The Ashta Koshtak is important because it is associated with Ashtami tithi. Also, the image contains the picture of a lion and children along with Goddess Ahoi.
• After, this holy water is spread to the place of puja for purification. Pot filled with water is placed on the puja arena, and the mouth of the jar is covered with an earthen lid. 
• Another small earthen pot (Karwa) is kept on top of Kalash. Shoots of grass are used to cover the nozzle of Karwa.
• After the evening goddess, Ahoi is worshipped as per the puja muhurat.  

Purpose of the Puja

Women perform the puja for the long lives of their children. Goddess Ahoi is known as the goddess of Fertility. Therefore, it is said that women who please goddess Ahoi get the boon of Fertility.

Legend

As per Legends, a money lender's wife once went to the forest to collect soil. While digging the earth with her spade, she accidentally killed a lion cub. The cub, before death, cursed her that all her sons would see a similar fate. Within a year, all her Seven Sons died. They sincerely wanted to repent for their sins and went on pilgrimage. On the way, there was an Akashvani that said about the worship of Ahoi Mata. After hearing this, the woman drew the picture of a cub and worshipped Ahoi Mata. Also, she sincerely repented for her sins. Goddess Ahoi was pleased with her worship and gave her the boon of Fertility.

Ahoi puja Prasad ideas

Channa Dal Kheer

Ingredients for making chana dal kheer / imli ki kheer or gulgul puli anna are given below: 

• 1 cup chana dal soaked in water overnight 
• Two cups sugar syrup made from 3/4 cup sugar 4 cups of water heated till it reaches one string consistency. Let it cool before using; otherwise, the hot syrup will curdle milk. 
• 10 tbsp rabri / thickKesarcondensed milk 
• 1 tbsp crushed dry kesar (optional) 
• A pinch of cardamom powder (optional) 
• Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

How to make it?

• Soak chana dal in water overnight. 
• Drain the water and grind soaked dal to a smooth paste adding little jaggery if required.
• Add sugar syrup top or jaggery to this mixture and bring it to a boil, stirring continuously. 
• Stir for a few minutes before taking it out from the stove.
• Add puree, rabri, dry fruits, nuts, cardamom seeds and mix well. Serve hot or cold according to your preference.

Mathiya / Kheer Mathiya

It is prepared using jaggery, milk and rice flour. It is given as prasad. Ingredients for making mathiya are given below: 

• 3 cups jaggery / gud 
• 1/2 cup water 
• 1/4 cup rice flour 
• 2 tbsp fresh grated coconut (optional) 

How to make it?

1. Heat water in a kadhai.
2. Add jaggery and let it melt together, stirring until it forms one string consistency syrup. 
3. Let the syrup cool down. Mix rice flour with two tablespoons of hot water to make a smooth paste. 
4. While the jaggery syrup is still warm, add this rice flour paste and bring the mixture to boil, stirring continuously.
5. Add grated dry coconut and mix well. 
6. Remove from the heat source, cool the mixture for a few minutes before taking it out in plates or bowls humming. Once set, cut them into squares, serve mathiya as prasad or offer them to Maata Ahoi.

Check out Kadhai

Chana Dal Ladoo 

Laddu is generally made using Besan, sugar/jaggery, ghee and cardamom powder. Ingredients for making chana dal ladoo are given below: 

• 1 cup chana dal soaked in water overnight 
• Two cups sugar syrup made from 3/4 cup sugar 4 cups of water heated till it's one string consistency. Let it cool before using; otherwise, the hot syrup will curdle milk. 
• 1 tbsp ghee (optional) 
• 10 cardamoms powdere (optional) 

Soak chana dal in water overnight. Drain the water and grind soaked dal to a smooth paste adding little fresh water if required. Add sugar syrup or jaggery to this mixture and bring it to a boil, stirring continuously. Simmer for a few minutes before taking it out from the stove. Add ghee, dry fruits, nuts, cardamom seeds, and mix well. Serve hot or cold according to your preference.

Conclusion

Ahoi Mata is the goddess of Fertility, and appeasing her through puja is a great way to get her blessings. Celebrate the big occasion today and make a prasad using our recipes mentioned above.