This year this fast is being observed today on 24th October. Ahoi Mata is worshiped during this fast. On this day, women observe Nirjala fast for their children. In the evening, after listening to the story under the shade of the stars, they break their fast by offering prayers to the stars.
This year this fast is being observed on 24th October. Ahoi Mata is worshiped during this fast. On this day, women observe Nirjala fast for their children. In the evening, after listening to the story under the shade of the stars, they break their fast by offering prayers to the stars. At many places, the worship of Ahoi Mata begins after the stars come out. Before the puja, the place of worship is cleaned, the puja area is filled, a pot is filled with water and placed on a corner of the platform like a kalash and then the puja is performed. After this the story of Ahoi Ashtami fast is heard. After reading the story, one should pray at the end to protect everyone just as the mother protected her children.
Story: In ancient times, there was a moneylender who had seven sons and seven daughters-in-law. This moneylender also had a daughter who had come to her parents’ house from her in-laws’ house during Diwali. When the seven daughters-in-law went to the forest to get mud to plaster the house on Diwali, their sister-in-law also went with them. Before Diwali, on Kartik Badi Ashtami, the seven daughters-in-law along with their only son-in-law went to the forest to collect soil. From where she was digging soil. The den of Syau-Sehe was there only. While digging soil, Sehi’s child died at the hands of her sister-in-law. Being angry with this, Syu Mata said to her sister-in-law that now I will bind you. Then my sister-in-law prayed to her seven sisters-in-law that one of you should get her womb tied in my place. All the sisters-in-law refused to get their womb tied, but the younger sister-in-law started thinking, if I don’t get the womb tied, my mother-in-law will get angry, thinking that the younger sister-in-law got herself tied instead of her sister-in-law. After that, whenever the child she had would die after seven days, one day the moneylender’s wife called the Pandit ji and asked, what is the matter, why does the child of my daughter-in-law die on the seventh day. Then Pandit ji told his daughter-in-law to worship the black cow. He told that actually the black cow is the sister of Syu Mata, if she leaves your womb then your child will live. The younger daughter-in-law served the cow with full dedication. One day mother cow said that someone cleans me every day before I wake up, so I will see today. When mother cow woke up early in the morning, she saw that the moneylender’s son’s daughter-in-law was cleaning under her. Mother cow was pleased with this and said that I am happy with you, ask for whatever you want. Then the moneylender’s daughter-in-law said, Siau Mata is your sister and she has tied my womb, please get my womb opened by her.
Mother cow said – Okay then mother cow took him across the seven seas to her sister. There was strong sunlight on the way, so both of them sat under a tree. Meanwhile a snake appeared there, on the same tree were the children of Garuda Pankhani. The snake started killing the children of Garuda Pankhani. Then the moneylender’s daughter-in-law killed the snake and buried it under the shield and saved the children. After some time Garuda Pankhani came and seeing blood lying there, she started pecking the moneylender’s daughter-in-law. Then the moneylender said – I have not killed your child but the snake had come to bite your child. I have protected your children. Garudapankhni was pleased with this and asked what Maang asks for. She said, Syumata lives across the seven seas. Please send me to him. Then Garuda Pankhani carried both of them on his back and took them to Sayu Mata. Seeing them, Sayu Mata said that sister has come after a long time. Then she said that sister, I have got lice in my head. Then, at Surahi’s request, the moneylender’s daughter-in-law removed his yoke with a stitch. On this, Syu Mata became happy and said that you should have seven sons and seven daughters-in-law.
The moneylender’s wife said, “I don’t have even one son, how can I get seven?” Mother said, “If I go back on my promise, I will be a pebble on the washerman’s pond.” Then the moneylender’s daughter-in-law said, mother said that my womb is lying closed with you. Go, you will get seven sons and seven daughters-in-law in your house. You go and do Ujman. Make seven Ahoi and perform seven strictures. When she returned home, she saw seven sons and seven daughters-in-law sitting there, she became happy. He made seven ahois, seven ujmans, seven kadais. On the day of Diwali, the sisters-in-law started saying to each other that they should do the puja quickly, lest the younger daughter-in-law start crying remembering the children.
When there was no crying for a long time, the sister-in-law sent the children. The children looked and went back and said that aunty is making fun of something, there is a lot of excitement going on. On hearing this, her sister-in-laws ran to her house and started asking how did you get rid of the womb? She said, you have not given birth! I tied it, now Sayu Mata has kindly untied me. Just as Syu Mata opened the womb of that moneylender’s daughter-in-law, in the same way open ours too, open everyone’s. Open the womb of the one who says, the one who roars and the family.
