Festival of Hindu, Jitmutbahan Brat (Jitia)

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Jitmutbahan Brat (Jitia)

• important festival of Mithilanchal for Sadhwa women of all castes and is performed for the well being and longevity of their sons

• celebrated by the mothers of Mithila for the welfare and prosperity of their children

• Jeemutvahan a mythological hero got the false charge of adultery against his chaste mother absolved by god

• Jeemutvahan is respected as an ideal son and is worshipped by women

• It is performed on Aswin Krishna Ashtami prevailing in Pradosh time

• They observe Nirjala fast on this day and break the fast next day on the expiry of Ashtami

• At times when Ashtami begins in afternoon, they may have to fast for two days

• Since nothing, even a spec of grass is put in mouth, the fast is also called Khar Jitia

• Those who escape severe accidents are believed to have the blessings of their mother having performed this brat

• It is custom to take Fish and chapatti made of millet (Marua) the previous day, unlike other fasts when Ekbhukta may be don

• In the  night prior to fast they take a meal just before the beginning of Ashtami

• This is peculiar to this fasting only

• Often children are awoken and fed the preparations

• This is   known as Ongthan

Story:

• Near the sea on the bank of river Narmada there was a city named  Kanchanawati which was ruled by the king Malayketu
• There was a desert called Baluhata on the western side of river

• There was a Pakar tree on the branch of which lived a she-hawk and in the hole of the trunk lived a she-jackal

• They were fast friends

• Once they,  like the womenfolk of the place, observed the fast and performed the pooja of Jimootbahan son of Shalibahan

• That day the son of the richest trader of that city died. he was cremated nearby

• In the night there was terrific rain and thunderstorm
• The Jackal could not resist the temptation of eating the remains, but the hawk continued with her fast
• Next day after the women folk broke the fast, she also broke the fast
• In the next birth, they were born as sisters in the house of a Brahmin, Bhaskar
• The elder, hawk in previous birth, was named Sheelwati and was married to Buddhism and the younger, jackal in previous birth, was named Karpoorawati and was married to the king, Malayketu
• Due to the blessings of Jimootbahan, Sheelwati was blessed with seven handsome sons

• But all the sons of Karpoorawati died just after birth

• She was very sad

• When the seven sons of Sheelwati came of age, they applied for and got service with the king

• When Karpoorawati saw them, she turned blue with envy

• With her wicked design, she persuaded the king to get the seven youths killed and sent the heads in seven containers covered with red cloth to her elder sister

• Jimootbahan knew about this and he made heads of clay, fixed them on the torso and sprinkled "Amrit" to make them alive

• The sons returned to their home

• The wives had received the heads but they turned to palm fruits

• Karpoorawati, all the day, waited to hear the wails of the womenfolk of the house of Buddhism

• When nothing happened, she sent her maid to that house

• The maid reported that the sons are all rejoicing in their house

• The queen first suspected her husband of duping her, but he told her that there must be God's blessing on that family

• Karpoorawati went to her sister and told her everything and enquired how her sons could not die

• Sheelwati, due to her penance, remembered every detail of previous life

• She took Karpoorawati to the tree and narrated the events of previous life

• Hearing all these Karpoorawati fell unconscious and died

• The king performed her last rites