On October 31, the Western world celebrates All Saints’ Day, but in India, this day is observed as Ahoi Ashtami, a fast connected to a sad story about a woman and her seven sons.
Sad story of Ahoi Ashtami
In one Indian village lived a woman who had seven sons. Once she went to the forest to collect soil to renew the wall paintings in the house. This happened during the month of Kartik, on the eve of the Diwali festival.
While working, the Indian woman accidentally dropped her axe and hit a bear cub sleeping in a den. The cub died, and the woman, upset, still took the earth and returned to the village.
By a sad coincidence, the following year all her sons died. The unhappy mother considered herself guilty of the death of her children, since she had killed the bear cub. Kind people suggested to the sufferer that she should pray to the goddess Ahoi Bhagwati.
The woman faithfully prayed and fasted, and ultimately the merciful goddess returned her boys to the mother.
Sacred rite
Women should wake up in the morning and wash themselves. An image of the goddess Ahoi with a cub should be drawn on the wall. A clay pot tied with a red woolen thread with water should be placed to the left of the image. Water should also be offered in a glass to the sun; for this, a glass of water is placed where the sun hits. After that, the “puja” rite should be performed. During twilight, in front of the drawn image, the story of Ahoi Ashtami is read. During the reading, several wheat grains should be held in the right hand. After reading, these grains should be wrapped in the corner of one’s clothes. After the stars appear in the sky, water in a pot and wheat grains are offered to the moon. After that, one should drink the water that was offered to the sun and the moon; if there are children, they should bring the water to the woman. Then you can eat vegetarian food without onions and garlic.
