Ahoi Ashtami Marwari Vrat Katha

Ahoi Ashtami or Ahoi athen as known in common tongue festival is specifically meant for mothers who have sons. The baniya-marwari (traders) community in Rajasthan has held on to this tradition quite religiously over centuries. In the age of ‘readymade’ items though quite a few Marwari households which buy a ready-made Ahoi Mata calendar, there are still those who retain the age-old tradition of making the Mother’s sketch with the help of geru - red powder diluted with water to make a paste. Her picture is either hung (if it is a calendar) or made on the wall