Jitiya Festival



Since time immemorial, the holy festival of Jivitputrika popularly known as Jitiya is observed by women in Bihar for the long life of their children. Mothers keep fast throughout the day without taking even a drop of water. Normally, the fast is observed for the well-being of sons.

One of the most prized possession women have been gifted with by the almighty God is to bring new life on earth. The glory of motherhood is celebrated during Jitiya festival by forsaking food and water and praying for children.
 
Jitiya is a Nirjala vrata as the devotee mothers abstain even from water which is the most essential thing for life. The ritual takes three days. The first day (the day before jitiya) is called ‘Nahai-Khai’ as the women take the first morsel only after having bath. The second day is for the fast and Paaran is done on the third day. Religious priests give information about the exact time for Paaran and women can break their fast only after that time.

The dishes which are cooked for Paaran are also fixed. Women break their fast with saag (edible herbs) like Noni saag, Poi saag etc. and cakes made from the flour of Mahua which is a local crop. This observance is based on legendary mythology and remains unaffected by modern culture.

Jitiya is performed in the Krishna Paksh of the Ashwin maas (month) on Ashtami tithi (eighth day) as per the Indian calendar guided by the moon. The day is also celebrated as Lakshmi Parv (worship of Goddess Lakshmi) in other parts of India as informed by Amarnath Tiwary, the priest of the Akhand Vindhyavashini Devi temple near Golghar in Patna.

“As the name Jivitputrika implies, it is performed to pray for the long life of children. I believe that every woman must do it,” he said. He further explained the whole process in detail.

“Following the rules given in our religious books, women should offer prayers to Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesh and other deities during the evening. The next day the women again offer puja at the same altar and sing local folk songs.“The priests help the worshippers to perform the whole process according to Karmkand. But if a priest is not available, mothers can perform the puja on their own by following ‘Ashtadasho Upchaar’ (eight holy treatments), ‘Shodshon Upchaar’ (sixteen holy treatments) and other rituals. Women who come from affluent families or who are very religious follow Rajopchar and Panchopchar method as well and hear the jitiya story with full devotion,” he said. The story associated with Jitiya has its own significance as the ritual is incomplete without hearing the story.

According to religious books when ‘Kaliyug’ began, women were worried about their progeny and they went to Gautam Rishi, a well known sage. The sage told them that there is a ritual which could help save their children.He narrated a story which starts in the time of Mahabharata when Pandavas were traumatized with the death of all their sons in the war. Their queen Draupadi went to a Brahmin called Dhaumya and asked for a solution for the long life of children.

Dhaumya told her the following story: Jimutvahan was a king in Satyuga. Once on a visit to his in-laws home with his wife, he heard a bitter cry of an old woman at night. The woman was crying for her dead son. Jimutvahan went to her and came to know that she was crying because Garura (the king of birds and vehicle of Lord Vishnu) had eaten her son. Jimutvahan, generous by nature instantly went to the place where Garura could be found and presented himself as food.

Garura started to cut his body with his claws. But surprised by the behaviour of the king, he wanted to know the actual reason behind his sacrifice. Despite the pain, the king insisted Garura to kill and eat him. Out of awe, he inquired about the actual identity of the king. “You do not seem to be an ordinary man. I beseech you to tell the truth,” said Garura.

Then the king revealed his identity and happy with his generosity, Garura asked him to make a wish. Jimutvahan asked the king of birds to give life to all those people whom he had eaten. Garura complied with his wish and himself brought ‘Amrit’ (holy nectar) from the Naglok and sprinkled it on the dead remains of the bones of all the deceased. The dead were all alive. Happy with the king’s gesture, he also gave him a boon -- A woman who will offer worship on the eighth day of Asvin in Krishna Paksha with a statue of Kusha (a kind of grass used in religious observances) will never face any threat on the life of her children.

33 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:23 PM

    I have been doing Jitiya from past three years for my daughter but never knew the exact story behind it. Thanks for posting it. May God bless every mother observing this fast and their kids .

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  2. Its difficult to find any article on these festivals .I found this article very useful.Thanks.
    Vibha
    Bangalore

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Acha aap kya jitiya puja karte hain.. Mujha bata shakte hain bangalore a kaha puja hota hain

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    2. Please me 7022021633 ring me help me I am new in bangalore

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  3. I am totally glad here to see this Blog on Jitiya Festival.

    Let me wish my "MAA" a nice Life and all the best things which she deserve and God wanted to provide her as she do this Nirjala Vrat for me from last 7 to 8 years.

    Prior to starting this Vrat by my MAA, earlier my step DADI was doing for their own Children and for us as combining for the welfare and safety of children but later due to some circumstances now my Mother is doing Jitiya Festival for me and DADI is doing for his own children.

    Reading the news and story here is really pleasant for me as i have never heard the story before. This is really good.

    Also MOTHER is always there to save her children whatever be the situation this is really cool guys. We should respect and always help our mother in all situation.

    We also enjoy the Prasad which we receive later after Pooja including of Puri, Mithai, Chana, Variuos Fruits and Halwa.

    MAY God Bless ALL Mothers.

    From Rameshwar

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    Replies
    1. Acha aap log jitiya puja karte hain aaplog kya bangalore k hain please contact me 7022021633 mein bangalore me nayi hun help me

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  4. Anonymous4:44 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. Anonymous4:46 PM

    I think the series of anecdotes for Jitiya is different:

    1) The kite and the female fox
    2) The cow and the calf
    3) The princess and lord Sun.

    I know the first and second stories. I should be grateful if some one let me know third one.

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  6. Feeling Nyc to read this.
    This is one more story telling about the devotion about mother.

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  7. Anonymous11:09 AM

    Thanks for this informations.

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  8. Anonymous11:09 AM

    Thanks for this informations.

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  9. Any body can please tell me which pulse is used for making jhor on jitiya day.

    It will be my first jitiya for my daughter feeling happy

    Please reply

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. madua ki roti,noni saag,kushi matar and satputiya

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    2. Can you please tell me the other names of satputiya because the place where I am living people don't know what it is. Please help me

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  10. Anonymous9:34 PM

    In Bihar Kushi Matar/Kushi Kerao is available but by which name it is known as in Rajsthan.

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  11. Anonymous5:04 PM

    Can any1 tell where will I get madua in kolkata ???

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    Replies
    1. U can get it in Spencer south city mall

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    2. U can get it in Spencer south city mall

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  12. I really appreciate this blog especially for Jitya.

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  13. Anonymous8:50 AM

    C an anyone list out the things required for Puja. There are no articals which contains Puja vidhi. I only see the katha and brief of doing fast with dates and all. Not even a single article with list of things required and how to perform the puja.

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  14. Anonymous4:48 PM

    For madua ka atta, please ask the shopkeeper for ragi atta. It is more common and familiar name of it.

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  15. Where to get kushi matar in bangalore

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  16. Where to get Kushi Marar in puna?

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  17. We are not able to find the Kushi Kerao in Gurgaon .
    Thanks for story behind JITIYA.

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    Replies
    1. Please let me know if you get details for kushi kerao in Gurgaon.

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  18. Anonymous1:05 PM

    Jitiya is an important festival of Nepali married women of Mithilanchal and Tharu women of all castes. This festival is named after Masabashi’s son Jimutavahana, a blessing son of the sun. Masabashi was an unmarried princess who spent her life as hermit living in a hermitage.
    Essay on Jitiya Festival

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  19. You can easily avail....satputiya..

    It belongs to turai (guard) family.
    Smooth texture one is turai and rough lining one is satputiya..
    In English it is Ridge guard or Chinese okra or sponge guard

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  20. Any one please help me to know about mala of jitiya.. how to design or purchase?

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  21. Anonymous3:15 PM

    Kushi kerao in delhi which name it is

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  22. Any knows where to get kushi kerao in baBangalo?

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  23. Any knows where to get kushi kerao in Bangalore?

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  24. Anonymous11:51 AM

    Can anybody help to get Kusia Kerao in Gurgaon or even on line

    ReplyDelete