Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha
अहोई अष्टमी व्रत कथा
The Ahoi Ashtami vrat katha is the story mothers read on Ahoi Ashtami, the fast they keep for their children a few days after Karwa Chauth. It tells of a merchant's wife who accidentally killed a porcupine's cub while digging clay, lost her seven sons, and had them restored by Ahoi Mata after she owned her mistake and kept the fast. It is read in the evening, before the fast is broken at the sight of the stars.
- 11 verses
- 7 min
- Traditional story; this retelling is by Nitya
Bahut samay pehle ek nagar mein ek sahukar rehta tha. Uski patni ke saat bete the. Ghar dhan-dhaanya se bhara tha aur bachchon ki hansi se goonjta rehta tha.बहुत समय पहले एक नगर में एक साहूकार रहता था। उसकी पत्नी के सात बेटे थे। घर धन-धान्य से भरा था और बच्चों की हँसी से गूँजता रहता था।
Long ago, a merchant lived in a town. His wife had seven sons. Their home was full of plenty and rang with the children's laughter.
Diwali se kuchh din pehle sahukarni ghar leepne ke liye mitti laane jangal ki or gayi. Vahan ek teele ke paas vah kudaal se mitti khodne lagi.दीवाली से कुछ दिन पहले साहूकारनी घर लीपने के लिए मिट्टी लाने जंगल की ओर गई। वहाँ एक टीले के पास वह कुदाल से मिट्टी खोदने लगी।
A few days before Diwali, the merchant's wife went towards the forest to fetch clay for plastering the house. Near a mound she began to dig with a hoe.
In older village homes, walls and floors were freshly plastered with clay and cow dung before Diwali. Many tellings say she dug clay to repair or build the house.
Us teele mein ek sehi (syahu) ki maand thi, jismein uske chhote-chhote bachche rehte the. Anjaane mein sahukarni ki kudaal ek bachche ko lag gayi aur vah mar gaya.उस टीले में एक सेही (स्याहु) की माँद थी, जिसमें उसके छोटे-छोटे बच्चे रहते थे। अनजाने में साहूकारनी की कुदाल एक बच्चे को लग गई और वह मर गया।
In that mound was the den of a sehi, a porcupine, where her little cubs lived. Without knowing it, the woman's hoe struck one of the cubs, and it died.
Sehi or syahu is the Hindi word for a porcupine. This is why Ahoi Mata is drawn with a porcupine and her cubs.
Yah dekhkar sahukarni ka man kaanp utha. Use apni bhool par bahut pachhtava hua. Vah bhaari man se mitti lekar ghar laut aayi, par yah baat kisi se keh na saki.यह देखकर साहूकारनी का मन काँप उठा। उसे अपनी भूल पर बहुत पछतावा हुआ। वह भारी मन से मिट्टी लेकर घर लौट आई, पर यह बात किसी से कह न सकी।
Seeing this, her heart trembled. She deeply regretted what she had done. With a heavy heart she carried the clay home, but she could not bring herself to tell anyone.
Kuchh samay baad uske bete ek-ek karke beemar padne lage, aur ek varsh ke bheetar saaton bete chal base. Sahukarni ka dukh kehne se bahar tha. Vah din-raat roti rehti thi.कुछ समय बाद उसके बेटे एक-एक करके बीमार पड़ने लगे, और एक वर्ष के भीतर सातों बेटे चल बसे। साहूकारनी का दुख कहने से बाहर था। वह दिन-रात रोती रहती थी।
Before long her sons fell ill one after another, and within a year all seven had died. Her grief was beyond words, and she wept day and night.
Ek din usne gaon ki badi-boodhi striyon ke saamne apna man khol diya. Usne rote hue kaha, “Maine jaan-boojhkar koi paap nahin kiya. Anjaane mein sehi ka bachcha mujhse mar gaya tha. Tabhi se mera sab kuchh ujad gaya.”एक दिन उसने गाँव की बड़ी-बूढ़ी स्त्रियों के सामने अपना मन खोल दिया। उसने रोते हुए कहा, “मैंने जान-बूझकर कोई पाप नहीं किया। अनजाने में सेही का बच्चा मुझसे मर गया था। तभी से मेरा सब कुछ उजड़ गया।”
One day she opened her heart to the elder women of the village. Weeping, she said, “I never meant to do wrong. By accident I killed a porcupine's cub, and since then I have lost everything.”
Striyon ne use dhaadhas bandhaya aur kaha, “Tumne apni bhool sachche man se maan li hai, isse tumhara aadha paap dhul gaya. Ab Kartik Krishna Ashtami ko Ahoi Mata ka vrat rakho. Deewar par sehi aur uske bachchon ka chitra banakar Ahoi Mata ki pooja karo aur apni bhool ki kshama maango.”स्त्रियों ने उसे ढाढ़स बँधाया और कहा, “तुमने अपनी भूल सच्चे मन से मान ली है, इससे तुम्हारा आधा पाप धुल गया। अब कार्तिक कृष्ण अष्टमी को अहोई माता का व्रत रखो। दीवार पर सेही और उसके बच्चों का चित्र बनाकर अहोई माता की पूजा करो और अपनी भूल की क्षमा माँगो।”
The women comforted her. “You have owned your mistake with a true heart,” they said, “and that has already washed away half the sin. Now keep the fast of Ahoi Mata on the eighth day of the waning moon in Kartik. Draw the porcupine and her cubs on the wall, worship Ahoi Mata, and ask forgiveness for what you did.”
Sahukarni ne vaisa hi kiya. Ashtami ke din usne subah se vrat rakha. Shaam ko deewar par Ahoi Mata, sehi aur uske bachchon ka chitra banaya, jal se bhara karva rakhkar pooja ki aur sachche man se kshama maangi. Raat ko taare nikalne par usne taaron ko arghya diya aur tab vrat khola. Har varsh vah yah vrat isi shraddha se karti rahi.साहूकारनी ने वैसा ही किया। अष्टमी के दिन उसने सुबह से व्रत रखा। शाम को दीवार पर अहोई माता, सेही और उसके बच्चों का चित्र बनाया, जल से भरा करवा रखकर पूजा की और सच्चे मन से क्षमा माँगी। रात को तारे निकलने पर उसने तारों को अर्घ्य दिया और तब व्रत खोला। हर वर्ष वह यह व्रत इसी श्रद्धा से करती रही।
She did just that. On Ashtami she fasted from dawn. In the evening she drew Ahoi Mata, the porcupine and her cubs on the wall, set a karva full of water before them, worshipped, and asked forgiveness with all her heart. When the stars came out she offered them water, and only then broke her fast. Every year after that she kept the fast with the same faith.
Ahoi Mata uski sachchi bhakti se prasann huin. Kehte hain, unki kripa se sahukarni ke saaton bete use phir mil gaye, aur ghar mein phir se khushiyan laut aayin.अहोई माता उसकी सच्ची भक्ति से प्रसन्न हुईं। कहते हैं, उनकी कृपा से साहूकारनी के सातों बेटे उसे फिर मिल गए, और घर में फिर से खुशियाँ लौट आईं।
Ahoi Mata was pleased by her true devotion. It is said that by her grace the woman was given back all seven of her sons, and joy returned to the house.
Some tellings say her sons came back to life; others say she was blessed with seven sons again. Families tell it both ways.
Tabhi se maataayen apni santaan ki lambi aayu aur sukh ke liye Ahoi Ashtami ka vrat rakhti hain. Ve deewar par Ahoi Mata ka chitra banakar pooja karti hain aur taare dekhkar vrat kholti hain.तभी से माताएँ अपनी संतान की लंबी आयु और सुख के लिए अहोई अष्टमी का व्रत रखती हैं। वे दीवार पर अहोई माता का चित्र बनाकर पूजा करती हैं और तारे देखकर व्रत खोलती हैं।
Since then, mothers keep the Ahoi Ashtami fast for their children's long life and happiness. They draw Ahoi Mata on the wall, worship her, and break the fast when they see the stars.
He Ahoi Mata, jaise aapne sahukarni ki sooni god phir bhar di, vaise hi sabki santaan ki raksha karna aur sabki god hari-bhari rakhna. Bolo Ahoi Mata ki jai!हे अहोई माता, जैसे आपने साहूकारनी की सूनी गोद फिर भर दी, वैसे ही सबकी संतान की रक्षा करना और सबकी गोद हरी-भरी रखना। बोलो अहोई माता की जय!
O Ahoi Mata, as you filled that grieving mother's empty lap again, so protect every child and keep every mother's lap full. Say: glory to Ahoi Mata!
Families end the katha with a closing line like this, in their own words, and then bow to Ahoi Mata and the elders.
Complete
You have reached the end of Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha.
Make it a weekly practice
Adds a weekly event to your phone’s calendar. No sign-up, nothing leaves your device.
Questions
Who keeps the Ahoi Ashtami fast?
Mothers, for the long life and wellbeing of their children. Families once kept it mainly for sons, but many mothers now keep it for daughters and sons alike. Some women who are hoping for a child keep it too.
When do I break the fast?
After the stars come out in the evening. You offer them water from the karva and then eat. Some families wait for the moon instead, which rises late on this night. Abroad, go by local nightfall where you live, and if it is cloudy, follow your family's custom.
Can I read the Ahoi Ashtami katha in English?
Yes. Tradition asks that the story be told and heard with faith, and that is easier in a language you understand. You can read the Hindi aloud from the Roman letters on this page and keep the English open beside it.
Why is there a porcupine in the Ahoi Mata picture?
Because of the story. The mother's grief begins when she accidentally kills a porcupine's cub, so Ahoi Mata is drawn with the porcupine and her cubs. Worshipping them together is part of asking forgiveness.
Is it OK to drink water if I'm pregnant or unwell?
Yes. Health comes first, and tradition has always allowed the fast to be eased. Many mothers take water, milk or fruit and still do the evening puja and the katha. Check with your family and your doctor.
Source and review
Source: Nitya's retelling of the traditional story (Hindi, 2026), written for this site; not a transcription of any printed edition
Nitya's retelling of the traditional story. The Ahoi Ashtami katha has no single canonical wording. Our retelling follows the elements common to the most widely told version: a merchant's wife with seven sons; digging clay near a mound before Diwali; accidentally killing a sehi (porcupine) cub with her hoe; losing her sons within a year; confessing to the elder women, who say owning the mistake has removed half the sin and advise the Ahoi Ashtami fast with a drawing of the sehi and her cubs; and Ahoi Mata restoring her sons (told either as revival or as the blessing of seven sons again). A second widely told version, with seven daughters-in-law, a sister-in-law and the cow Surahi, is not included. The Hindi is our own wording, not copied from any book or website. Meanings are retellings of each paragraph; the Hindi meaning is a one-line gist.
The text and the meanings are both an early draft.
The meanings are our own first draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet. If you spot a mistake, please tell us.