For women observing the Ahoi Ashtami 2026 fast, the evening period holds special significance. After a full day dedicated to prayers for the well-being and longevity of children, mothers worship Ahoi Mata and await the appearance of stars in the sky. According to religious beliefs, the fast is only completed after offering (Arghya) to the stars. Since the sunset time and star visibility vary across different localities, it is important to know when the stars will become visible in major cities such as Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, and others to correctly conclude the fast.
The Ahoi Ashtami fast this year falls on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Traditionally, the fast is broken by observing the stars in the evening. The approximate time for star observation depending on the city is as follows:
- Delhi: 18:00
- Noida: 18:01
- Ghaziabad: 18:00
- Lucknow: 17:48
- Calcutta: 17:22
- Jaipur: 18:08
- Chandigarh: 18:00
- Bhopal: 18:05
- Mathura: 18:00
- Vrindavan: 18:00
- Agra: 17:59
- Varanasi: 17:41
- Chennai: 18:04
It should be noted that the specified timeframes are approximate, and the actual visibility of stars may vary due to weather conditions, cloud cover, and local circumstances.
According to Panchang data, the Ashtami date begins on November 1 at 14:51 and ends on November 2 at 13:10. In Delhi, the auspicious time for performing the ritual is from 17:36 to 18:54. In Delhi, the stars are expected to appear around 18:00, and the moonrise is expected around 23:40.
After observing the stars, the fast is traditionally concluded. For this, women perform an evening ritual worshipping Ahoi Mata. The process of breaking the fast includes the following steps: first, taking a bath and wearing clean clothes in preparation for Puja; then lighting a lamp before the image or picture of Ahoi Mata; next, offering roli, akshat, flowers, and sweets to Ahoi Mata; during the worship, listening to or reading a story about the Ahoi Ashtami fast; when the stars appear in the sky, Arghya is offered to them using water from a pot; after this, prayers are offered for a long, healthy, and happy future for their children; finally, after offering food to Ahoi Mata, the fast is declared complete.
In some regions, there is a tradition of concluding the fast by observing the Moon rather than the stars. However, in most parts of North India, the fast is concluded after offering to the stars. In Delhi, the moon is predicted to rise around 23:40, which may require women following this tradition to wait until late at night. It is important to conclude the fast according to family customs.
In Hinduism, the Ahoi Ashtami fast is observed with the intention of wishing children a long life, good health, and a happy life. On this day, mothers observe a fast without water from morning till evening, after which they worship Ahoi Mata and listen to relevant stories. There is a religious belief that sincere observance of the fast and worship of Ahoi Mata guarantees blessings upon offspring.
