Jitia Festival seeking longevity of children: spreading inclusive wings

Jitiya Parva

Jitia Festival  : Myths play a huge role in the formation and continuity of culture. Such myths, linked to the history of the region, are in fact cultural heritage. The whole of Nepali society can be explored in a new way on the basis of the myth of representing the identity of civilization and social values, but we have not yet begun such an effort. Jitia Festival  is one such myth prevalent in the Eastern and Central Terai-Madhesh of Nepal. In time, it has taken the form of a festival of faith and trust.

Jitia Festival  is a very famous festival of Mithila region. But this festival is not limited to Mithila region of Nepal. In the Terai-Madhesh region of Jhapa, Mechi, from Narayani East, women enthusiastically participate in this festival. The festival is very important for the Maithili, Bhojpuri and Tharu speaking communities living in the area.

All these linguists claim equal ownership of the festival as part of their culture. Regardless of the culture, the acceptance of this festival has increased in recent days. Nowadays, this festival is celebrated in a large area. As far as Khas-Nepali speaking women are concerned, they also participate in this festival.

The people of this region, no matter where they live in Nepal, have been celebrating this festival in their own place. On this basis, this festival has become a unique example of cultural inclusion in Nepal.

Not only this, this festival is also celebrated with great reverence in India which is connected to the border from Parsa to Jhapa. In different places mentioned above, this festival is addressed by different names. Accordingly, the words jimutavahana and jiyutavahana are used as synonyms for Jitia Festival .

Originally, on the day of Ashwin Shukla Ashtami, devout women observe this festival by fasting. Mothers fast on this day to celebrate the health, longevity and overall well-being of their children. This time, under this festival, women are fasting on Saturday (September 4).

From the point of view of worship, this festival is considered more special than Chhath. In this festival, which is celebrated by completing various processes for three days, the fasting person has to complete the fast under strict discipline for about three days.

The process of the first day is called Nahay Khay. As part of this process, which is performed on the seventh day, the vows are bathed, washed, and vowed to be holy. Jitia Festival

On the seventh day, the deity Jimutavahana is worshiped and invoked. In this festival, Jimut or Jiyutavahana is worshiped. It is believed that the living vehicle is Lord Mahadev. On this day, the Vratals begin the festival with a pure ritual.

On the eighth day, fasting is observed and the original worship of Jimutavahana is performed.

At the beginning of the ninth day, the fast is dissolved or concluded by Parna (Parvan). Sometimes the period of Ashtami Tithi is lengthened and the period of fasting is also lengthened. This time it has happened.

As the eighth date has been extended, the duration of this fast has also been extended. On this basis, this time the eighth day, which is considered to have started from Saturday morning, falls on Sunday at around 3 pm, so the fasting people have to fast accordingly.

It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Many myths are prevalent regarding this festival which is being accepted in the society as an important ritual of cultural worship.Jitia Festival

According to popular mythology, there were two sisters named Shilavati and Karpuravati at one time in Mithila. Sister Karpuravati was the queen and sister Shilavati’s husband was in charge of the queen’s court. The sister not only competed with her sister but also sometimes became hostile.

The sister had seven brothers but no sister. The sister could not stand it. In her eyes, her sister’s seven brothers and sons stared like Kasinger.

On one occasion, the sister fasted for the welfare and longevity of her sons. The sister conspired.

She beheaded seven of her sisters and seven sons. At the end of the fast, she placed each head in a basket (a large plate-shaped material made of bamboo choita), covered it with a red cloth and sent it to her sister as koseli.Jitia Festival

Not knowing what was in the baskets she had received, the sister carefully placed them in the worship room. She engaged in other acts of worship. The sister, on the other hand, was sitting at her sister’s house, listening intently. She was anxiously waiting for her sister to cry.

Here Didi was involved in worship. At the end of the pooja, the sister picked up the red cloth from the basket received from her sister. But surprisingly, there were coconut shells, not the sons’ heads. Suddenly, the seven brothers came and bowed to the mother. The sons told the mother what the aunt had done.

After a long time, she did not hear any crying from her sister’s yard, so she came to her yard. When she arrived, she was shocked to see her sister’s seven brothers. Now it was her turn to cry. He had great remorse for his deeds. I apologize to my sister. The sister forgave her sister by telling her the story of her previous birth. The sister died while receiving the offerings.Jitia Festival

According to myth, Sheila was an eagle and Karpura was a fox. Both were very close friends. In the previous birth, both of them had organized Jitia festival together but the fox could not complete the fast. She had broken her fast and lied to the eagle.

That is why it is believed that Karpura did not have any welfare in this birth and did not have any children. It is believed that after this incident, the significance of this festival increased in Mithila and every woman of the house used to fast Jitia Festival .

At present, this festival is not limited to any particular culture and geography. This festival and its significance is spreading. Jitia Festival

Nowadays, the festival is celebrated grandly in Mithila culture as well as in Bhojpuri and Tharu culture of Central and Eastern Nepal from Ashwin Krishna Saptami to Navami. Women who have children fast for the welfare of their children and those who do not have children fast for the sake of having children.

This festival is completely related to family welfare. Through this festival, on the one hand, the great welfare of the children is wished and on the other hand, efforts have been made to spread the message of living together and maintaining social harmony and trust. The mythical story mentioned above conveys the same message. Jitia Festival

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