Jitiya (also known as Juitiya or Jivitputrika) is a festival to celebrate motherhood among women. This day women keep fast for well-being of their children. It is a Nirjala (Fast without water)vrat for 24 hour. This year, it will be celebrated on 14th of September to 15th of September.

Jitiya is a Hindu festival. It is mostly celebrated by mothers in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand state of India and Mithila region of Nepal.

The festival is observed for three-days during the Krishna Paksha in the lunar month of Ashwin. Krishna Paksha is basically the waning phase of the Moon.

The day has significance meaning in the Hindu calender. Some communities worship Lord Vishnu and Lord shiv this day.

Since I hail from Bihar, my mother celebrate this day by fasting for 24 hours.

This day, a special kind of yarn is worn as necklace. This yarn is often of red, pink or yellow colour, that is called ‘Juitiya’. In this yarn especially in Bhojpuri region, women tie small beads of different colours. In the Bihari culture, it is often a sacred thread that is also called Jitiya Haar. Moreover, In this thread, few sacred pendants are tied that are made of silver or gold. These pendants are made of different motifs including fish, child, moon etc. Further, different motifs have different meaning in the Jitiya haar. For instance, My mother wear four pendants and one of them is moon that describes immortality and endless cycle of life. It is also assumed that women tie as many pendant in the thread as many children they have. This is one of the beautiful things to share here.

On the eve of Jivitputrika celebration, some women go for sacred bath into the Ganga river. It is believed that Ganga river purify the body and the mind and open the way to liberation. Further, a Katha (story) of Jitiya is heard, that is associated to king Jimutavahana.

This day, mothers offer devotion, sacred food and water to deities for the well-being and happiness of their children. Overall, it is sacrifice of our mothers to keep our lives safe, secure and beautiful.

Happy Jivitputrika to all mothers!