Ahoi Ashtami or Ahoi Mata Vrat is a traditional Hindu fasting ritual observed by mothers for the well-being and prosperity of their children. This vrat is typically observed on the eighth day of the waning phase of the moon (Ashtami) in the month of Kartik, which usually falls in October or November. During this vrat, mothers pray for the long and healthy life of their children.
The Ahoi Mata Vrat Katha is a narrative or story associated with this fasting ritual. The story is often narrated during the fasting day to invoke blessings for the children. While there are variations of the story, here is a common version of the Ahoi Mata Vrat Katha:
Once upon a time, there was a village where a woman named Ahoi lived. She had seven sons. One day, while digging the soil in the forest, Ahoi accidentally killed the young cub of a lion. In her distress, she prayed to the lion to forgive her and promised to offer him her sons as a penance.
Several years passed, and Ahoi forgot about the promise she had made. She was blessed with seven more sons. One day, as she was preparing to go into the forest to break her fast, her neighbor stopped her and reminded her about the vow she had made to the lion. Ahoi was horrified and realized the gravity of her promise.
She rushed to the forest, seeking the lion. Deep in the forest, she met the lion and narrated her story. The lion, moved by her devotion and sincerity, granted her a boon. Ahoi requested the lion to forgive her and her family, and the lion agreed.
Ahoi returned home and observed the fast with dedication, breaking it only after sighting the stars in the evening sky. Her sons were saved from any harm, and her family prospered.
From that day on, the Ahoi Mata Vrat became a tradition among mothers who observe it to protect the well-being of their children. Women fast from sunrise to moonrise, praying for the health and prosperity of their offspring. The fasting ritual is usually concluded by listening to or narrating the Ahoi Mata Vrat Katha. This story symbolizes the significance of devotion, faith, and the power of prayer in a mother’s life
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