See through our eyes, not your ears.
Jitiya 2009: mothers fast for their sons
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. In 2009, the date of Jivitputrika Vrat is September 12.
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.
Though a Hindu festival, Jitiya is religiously observed by some Muslim women also to pray for the safety and prosperity of their children.
Women in Bihar feels that every woman must observe this pious ritual as it is a part of our tradition and brings happiness to the family.
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.
Jiutya, a red and yellow sacred thread, is worn by mothers who undertake this fasting.
The second day is for the fast and Paaran is done on the third day. Religious priests (Panditji) 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.
Following the rules given in religious books, women should offer prayers to Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesh and other deities during the evening. The next day 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.
Jitiya in Nepal
Jitiya is also celebrated in Hindu majority Nepal with great reverence. It is particulary celebrated by indigenous communities e.g. “Singh Danuwar” as well as “Donwar Rajputs” in Terai region. They always prayed earth, air, fire, and water as their god and goddess and consider nature as their god. As a god of fire, the Danuwar women celebrate `Jitiya’ as one of their great festivals. They worship jackals and eagles as the incarnation of Jitmahan, son of the Hindu God Sun (also called Surya Narayan).
The newly brides (daughter in law) of Danuwar women have to wait for a perfect day in order to celebrate Jitiya festival. The newly wed Danuwar women could fast for the Jitiya only if the festival falls on either Saturday or Sunday. The Danuwar community considers those women as fortunate ones if they get to celebrate Jitiya on the same year of their marriage and their community calls this day as the `Khar Din’.
If a Danuwar woman does not get the opportunity to celebrate Jitiya on Khar Din then she must wait for next year and so on until the perfect day eventually comes for her. Those women who get the opportunity to celebrate Jitiya on Khar Din have to take an oath before their god for fasting regularly on every Jitiya festival.
Dewan Ban Mandir, Saharsa
This temple is situated at Sahpur-Manjhoul of Nauhatta block in Saharsa, and has a Shiv Ling that was established by Maharaja Shalivahan some time in 100BC. Jitiya is celebrated after the name of Prince Jimutbahan, son of Maharaja Shalivahan. Description of this place is found in Shri Puran.
The ancient shrine at Dewan Ban was washed away by the turbulent Koshi river. The local people have however build another temple in the adjacent area.
Legend of Jivitputrika (Jitiya)
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.
25 Responses to “Jitiya 2009: mothers fast for their sons”
chilo,siyaro story was.correct.Thanks for the same.
Thanks for the info.. worth reading!!!
Highly appreciate for the kind of information’s you have provided for the festival, I would like to draw an attentions towards very small corrections.
in place of mahuwa it would be MADWA (MADWA ki ROTI) as “mahuwa” is a kind of tree used in preparation of Liquor. in north east of Bihar MATAR (green Peas) is essential ingredients
it would be privileged for our community or district if you will provide the link on you site to explore our culture.
I wish all the mothers who are following so tough fasting for their children, it is our responsibility also to see that we do not behave bad with our parents ,which now a days has become very common and should give due respect to them.
AS we people are rajputs(nikumbh) we do the jitiya in between dussehra or navratras ,i don’t know what is the reason behind it ,but if somebody would put some light on it ,i would be extremely happy .
Thanks for info
thanks a lot to give this wonderful information on net to celebrate the festival even though out of specific religious place.
Wow, this is a great website for all Biharis. And I am pleasantly surprised to find a story on Jitiya as well – My mother had kept jitiya yesterday(as per Mithila paanchang) and not today. My wishes to all the mothers who are carrying on with this tradition.
And somebody mentioned about the story of Chilo-Siyaro. They were, as far as I know, 2 birds who kept Jitiya, and then reappeared in human form. Apparently, Chilo would keep the fast honestly, while Siyaro would not! Hence Chilo was blessed with 6 boys, while Siyaro remained childless. Later, Siyaro tried to get Chilo’s sons killed, failed miserably. And like all Hindi movies, came on the path of good, fasted honestly with Cilo, and was blessed with a son. 
Feminists might not like this festival. But I still pay homage and respect this ancient Bihari tradition. 
Thanks & Happy wishes to all,
Its great time for every son’s for whome his/her mother keep fasting for their long life.
Its very religious story don’t kw true or not but these story cause some vibration inside. It is our faith dat need to keep alive in all generations.I recently get married and my both maa used to do and i used to think if i/we could continue this to next all coming generations or not. its very difficult with hectic job situations. anyway we should take this as a challange for saving our traditions
Itz really nice to know this story.
We do many vratas but never heard this type of tough vrata which is so far called as nirjala vrata. Today my servant asked me when i gone for lunch, to gv leave for tomorrow & i said NO. Really, i was nt knowing wht it is exactly. I just called up my home and said u come only on monday, take 2 days leave. I think she is confused with my bhaviour. This information given by all other frndz here made my eyes open. Thank u all dear friends. Forgive me God.
I know 2-3 stories popularly known as Jitiya Katha. Here goes one story (Jitiya Katha) that is popular in Champaran and some other Bhojpuri speaking regions —
There were two sisters – Chilo and Siyaro. Both of them were observing Jitiya fast. Siyaro unable to bear her hunger went out and fetched a bone to eat. When it grew dark in the cave, Siyaro started eating the bone. Hearing the sound of bones Chilo asked Siyaro “Where is this sound of bone coming Siyaro?” Siyaro bluffed, “Oh this is the sound of my crumbling bones due to hunger.” Siyaro ate the whole bone in the night leaving no traces as she didn’t want Chilo to find the truth that she had broken the Jitiya fast.
The two were reborn as humans in their next birth. Both sisters got married. Chilo was still religious and observed Jitiya without fail. Siyaro on the other hand was greedy and cunning and did not believe in the rituals.
With time Chilo gave birth to 7 handsome and healthy sons. But Siyaro didn’t have any children as everytime her newborn child would meet untimely death. She was sad.
One day, Siyaro saw 7 sons of her sister and jealousy led her to hatch a plan to kill her sister’s sons. She sent 7 packets (pots) full of sweets as gift to her sister’s son. When Chilo’s sons opened the packets they were happy that their mausi (maternal aunt) had sent them sweets. After somedays, Siyaro sent the children 7 packets again. This time the packets were full of venomous serpents. Chilo’s son were happy getting the packets as they thought that their mausi had sent them sweets again. When they opened the packets.. it was full of flowers, fruits, sweets, and gold.
Siyaro who was sure that her sister’s sons must be dead by now visited Chilo’s home and was astonished to see the boys live and playing happily. Siyaro made many such attempts to kill Chilo’s 7 sons but failed everytime.
She finally went to Chilo and confessed about her heinous acts.
Chilo then told Siyaro that she always observed Jitiya fast religiously that saved her children from all bad omen. That’s why her sons were still live.
Recalling their past birth she told Siyaro that her previous sin of breaking the Jitiya vrat and also not following Jitiya in this birth are making her childless. She advised her sister to observe Jitiya vrat. Soon after when Siyaro observed Jitiya vrat, Siyaro conceived and had a very good child.
jitiya shubh (stars time and finish time) and also paran time
u can read the paragraph ‘Praying to Jackal and eagle’ of the page
http://www.nefin.org.np/jep-janajati-empowerment/stories-from-the-field/297
Hi, I would really like to know the story of jivitputrika vrat please.
I want to know that jitiya shubh time (start and finish) or paran time
thanks
ranjana
still waiting ifsomebodycantellthejyuta.story.of.chilo.siyaro.It.must.be.remebered.by.some.elder.i.e..above.75+.
thanks for this knowlege..;i like it;
I want list of 30 years jivitiya festival with date and years;
please post;
thanks………
Ajit kumar
Jitiya date is falling on September 12, 2009.
I would like to know what (date and time) jitia starts and finishes in 2009
thanks, sharda
thanks for inf,the date in 2009 is 12 sept.If somebody can confirm the time of paran i.e. closing time of the fast on 13.sept or else starting time of the nawami (bhadra month).
Also there is another story for this fast having characters chilo,siyaro .May be some elders can tell.
Hi,
Thanks for providing the valuable information.I would appreciate if you could provide me the date on which this festival will be observed in this year.
Thanks & Regards,
Rakesh
thank you for this information. i was not knowing the date of this year jiutiya and came to know about the date through google that got me to your site. i am delighted with the complete information.
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chilo.siyaro.story.was.perfect..thanks.a.ton.it.was.really.nostalgic.
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