Jitiya festival begins in eastern Tarai

By Jaykrishna Yadav,Inaruwa, Sept. 24: Jitiya Parba, one of the most auspicious festivals in Mithilanchal, started on Monday in Sunsari and other districts of the region.

The three-day festival is observed by women wishing for the longevity of offspring, prosperity of the family and peace.

On the first day of the festival, women begin their fasting rituals after taking a holy dip in nearby rivers and ponds.  They offer beaten rice, curd, food items made out of mango juice and jaggery to lord Jitamohan and the departed ancestors putting them on the leaf of the luffa gourd. 

Fasting women also eat the items and distribute them to all the family members. The festival commences with the observance of the ‘Naha Kha’ ritual, which means taking food and taking a ritualistic bath. 

According to Shastri Pandit Kunjilal Mehta, women fast from 4:00 am on Tuesday to Wednesday evening.

On the first day of the fast, there is a tradition of eating millet bread and fish after offering a worship called ‘Machh Maruwa (Koda)’ in the local language.

On the second day of the festival on Tuesday, women observe fast from 4.00 am early in the morning and perform puja wishing long life of their offspring and family happiness. 

Hundreds of devotees take a holy dip in the Sunsari rivulet, Gadan River, canal of Sunsari Morang irrigation project and holy ponds located in the district headquarters. They also listen to the story of Jitamahan. 

Women perform the Othgan ritual by eating curd and beaten rice. From the oil offered to the deity, the oil is offered to their children as prasad. 

This festival highlights the cultural role and importance of Mithila women. 

It is believed that this fast originated when a demon abducted the seven sons of a woman in King Shalivahan’s kingdom. After the king rescued them, the woman began fasting in honour of the king. 

Meanwhile, a woman who had gone to take a holy dip in a pond drowned in a pond of Rajdevi Municipality Ward No. 8 in Rautahat district.