Ahoi Ashtami falls on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Observed precisely four days after Karwa Chauth and eight days prior to Diwali, this sacred fasting day is dedicated to Ahoi Mata (an aspect of Goddess Parvati). Mothers across northern, central, and western India observe this penance for their children's well-being, health, and longevity.
Unlike Karwa Chauth, where women wait for the moon, the Ahoi Ashtami fast is traditionally concluded at dusk upon sighting the evening stars. Because the waning moon of Krishna Paksha Ashtami rises near midnight, mothers can complete their arghya and conclude the fast early in the evening by observing the star rise. Here is a full list of major cities with star-rise timings in 2026 to observe the fast and rituals followed.
Ahoi Ashtami Date and Muhurat
Ashtami Tithi Begins:2:51 PM (November 1, 2026)
Ashtami Tithi Ends:1:10 PM (November 2, 2026)
Shubh Ahoi Puja Muhurat:5:36 PM to 6:54 PM (Duration: 1 hour 18 minutes)
Star Sighting (Sanjh/Dusk) Window:~5:30 PM to 6:30 PM (Varies city-wise from East to West)
Moonrise Timing:11:34 PM to 12:15 AM (Late night/midnight across zones)
City-Wise Star Sighting And Puja Muhurat Timings
Because the sun sets significantly earlier in Eastern India than in Western regions, star visibility varies by 40 to 60 minutes across the subcontinent. Check the exact local dusk time for your city:
| City | Evening Puja Muhurat | Star Rise / Sighting Time | Midnight Moonrise |
| New Delhi | 5:36 PM – 6:54 PM | 6:00 PM | 11:40 PM |
| Noida & Greater Noida | 5:36 PM – 6:54 PM | 5:59 PM | 11:38 PM |
| Gurugram & Faridabad | 5:36 PM – 6:54 PM | 6:01 PM | 11:41 PM |
| Hisar | 5:38 PM – 6:56 PM | 6:04 PM | 11:43 PM |
| Chandigarh | 5:35 PM – 6:53 PM | 5:59 PM | 11:38 PM |
| Lucknow | 5:27 PM – 6:45 PM | 5:47 PM | 11:28 PM |
| Kanpur | 5:30 PM – 6:48 PM | 5:50 PM | 11:30 PM |
| Varanasi | 5:22 PM – 6:39 PM | 5:40 PM | 11:20 PM |
| Meerut & Ghaziabad | 5:35 PM – 6:53 PM | 5:58 PM | 11:38 PM |
| Patna | 5:13 PM – 6:31 PM | 5:32 PM | 11:13 PM |
| Gaya & Muzaffarpur | 5:14 PM – 6:32 PM | 5:33 PM | 11:14 PM |
| Kolkata | 5:02 PM – 6:18 PM | 5:22 PM | 11:05 PM |
| Mumbai & Thane | 6:04 PM – 7:22 PM | 6:27 PM | 12:15 AM (Nov 2) |
| Pune | 6:01 PM – 7:19 PM | 6:24 PM | 12:12 AM (Nov 2) |
| Bengaluru | 5:52 PM – 7:08 PM | 6:14 PM | 11:58 PM |
| Chennai | 5:42 PM – 6:56 PM | 6:04 PM | 11:54 PM |
| Hyderabad | 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM | 6:06 PM | 11:55 PM |
| Ahmedabad | 6:02 PM – 7:20 PM | 6:24 PM | 12:10 AM (Nov 2) |
| Jaipur | 5:44 PM – 7:01 PM | 6:08 PM | 11:50 PM |
Rituals For Ahoi Ashtami 2026 Evening Puja
Here are the evening puja rituals you need to understand and keep in mind while performing rituals.
Set the Altar: Drape a wooden pedestal in red fabric, rest the image of Ahoi Mata against the wall, place a fresh water-filled Karwa on a bed of raw grains, and lay your silver Syahu pendant alongside it.
Offer the Bhog: Kindle a pure ghee lamp and fragrant dhoop. Apply vermilion and whole rice to the goddess, decorating the altar with seasonal blooms, water chestnuts, sweet puas, and warm wheat halwa.
Listen to the Katha: Clench seven unbroken wheat grains in your hand, sit with your family to recite or listen to the sacred legend of Ahoi Mata, and place the grains at the deity’s feet before performing the aarti.
Offer Tara Arghya: Step out to your balcony or courtyard as twilight deepens, locate the first visible stars in the dusk sky, and gently pour an unbroken stream of water from the Karwa while praying for your children.
Break the Fast: Offer the customary Bayan thali to your mother-in-law or family elder to receive their blessings, take a calming sip of the sanctified Karwa water, and taste the sweet prasad to mark the end of the day's fast.