Ahoi Ashtami 2026: Stars at 6:00 PM on 1 November, Puja 5:36 to 6:54 PM

Astha Sangrah Editorial Team

Published 25 October 20263 min read

3 min read

A mother at dusk before an Ahoi Mata drawing on the wall, holding a karva, with the first stars appearing in the sky

The Ahoi Ashtami fast is on Sunday, 1 November 2026. The puja muhurat is 5:36 to 6:54 PM, and the stars will be visible from about 6:00 PM (New Delhi).

Fast: Sunday, 1 November 2026
Puja muhurat: 5:36 to 6:54 PM
Star sighting: Around 6:00 PM
Moonrise: 11:40 PM
Ashtami tithi: 2:51 PM, 1 November to 1:10 PM, 2 November

Why the fast is on 1 November

This year, the morning of 1 November is still Saptami, and Ashtami begins at 2:51 PM. Ahoi Mata is worshipped at dusk, so the fast is kept on the day Ashtami holds in the evening. On 2 November Ashtami ends at 1:10 PM and the evening belongs to Navami, so the fast is on 1 November. It falls three days after Karva Chauth and seven days before Diwali.

Stars or moon: when to break the fast

In most families the Ahoi Ashtami fast is broken by offering water to the stars. This year that custom is especially convenient: the moon rises late, at 11:40 PM, while the stars appear soon after sunset (5:36 PM), from about 6:00 PM. Families whose custom is to offer arghya to the moon will have to wait until 11:40 PM.

The arghya is offered from a karva or lota filled with water, a little milk and a few grains of rice. In many homes it is the same karva used on Karva Chauth, and its water is sprinkled around the house on Diwali.

The Ahoi Mata drawing and the syahu mala

For the puja, an image of Ahoi Mata is drawn on the wall in red ochre with eight corners, since this is an Ashtami (eighth-day) vrat, along with a syahu, a porcupine, and her young. Printed Ahoi Mata calendars are also sold and can be hung at the puja place instead.

Women also wear the syahu mala, a string of small silver beads. By custom one bead is added for each child, and the mala is worn until Diwali. After the puja the Ahoi katha is heard: a mother accidentally kills a porcupine's cub, and her children are protected only after she seeks forgiveness and keeps the fast.

Radha Kund snan the same night

On the night of Ahoi Ashtami, couples bathe in Radha Kund at Govardhan, near Mathura. It is believed that couples who bathe in the kund that night wishing for a child are blessed by Radha Rani. The site gets very crowded, so plan ahead if you mean to go.

Your questions

Is the fast kept for daughters too?

Yes. Traditionally the fast was kept for sons, but most mothers now keep it for the long life and wellbeing of all their children, sons and daughters alike.

Is the Ahoi Ashtami fast nirjala?

In most families it is kept like Karva Chauth, without food or water from morning until the stars appear. If you are pregnant, unwell or on medication, keep it with water or fruit instead; your health comes first.

What if it's cloudy and the stars can't be seen?

Once it is past 6:00 PM and the stars are up according to the panchang, you can offer arghya towards the sky and break the fast. In many homes the elder women of the family decide in that case.

Keeping the fast for the first time?

In many families, on the first Ahoi fast the daughter-in-law gives her mother-in-law a baya, a plate of sweets, dry fruit and clothes, and takes her blessing. The syahu mala is often made for the first time on this day too.

Dates and times checked against Drik Panchang and our own panchang, for New Delhi.