Madhushrawani worship begins in Madhes

By Sudha Dev,Saptari, July 17: The Madhushrawani worship, performed by newly married women in the Tarai, including Saptari, began on Tuesday. The worship will continue for 15 days.

Women of various castes, including Deo, Brahmin, Kayastha, and Sonar have formally started the Madhushrawani worship, which has been in practice since ancient times. The ritual is performed with wishes for eternal marital bliss, the long life of their husbands, and peace and happiness of their families.

This worship is performed at the maternal home. It begins with fasting, and the necessary materials for the ritual such as clothes, cosmetics, fruits, flowers, milk, and replicas of elephants and serpents are brought from the husband’s house for the fasting woman to wear and use.

This puja, performed for 15 days, includes a detailed narration of the life of Shiva and Parvati, as well as the story of snakes and serpents told by a storyteller. It is believed to teach the married women to manage and lead a successful married life.

According to Neha Deva, a resident of Rajbiraj who performed the Madhushrawani puja last year, the worship holds special cultural and spiritual significance in the Mithila region.

She said that offerings include mango leaves, bel patra, cow’s milk, bananas, and various fruits. Since most of these items are directly connected to nature, this worship also conveys a message of environmental conservation.

During this period, women gather to sing traditional songs that recount the stories of Shiva and Parvati, as well as Nag and Nagini (Bishaha). Devoted women visit households in their neighbourhood in groups, collecting as many flowers as possible to offer during the next day’s worship.

As this ritual involves storytelling, singing, flower collection, and conducting the worship—all led by women, it has also become a platform that fosters leadership among women.

Some ethnic communities today also worshipped the Nag deity by offering milk, sweets, and flowers at their homes.