What is Juitiya festival in Indian Culture | Date | Rituals | Significance | Legend

How and when is the Jiutia festival celebrated in India?

By Intimate Viewpoint

Jiutia is also pronounced as Jivitputrika Vrat or 'Jutiya' or 'Jutiya'. The festival is celebrated from the 7th to 9th lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashwin and in September in the Gregorian Calendar. This year it will be celebrated from the 24th of September to the 26th of September.

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It is celebrated in many states of India, like Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. It is celebrated prominently in the villages of this state. The mothers observed the first for the long life and prosperity of their sons. Lord 'Dutibahana' is worshipped in this festival. The festival is celebrated for 3 days.

Rituals & Celebrations

The Mothers keep a 'Nirjala Vrat', (fasting without consuming food and water) for more than 24 hours. The first day of this festival is known as 'Nahai Khaye' means having food after taking a bath. The mothers do some rituals before and after taking a bath then consume 'Satwik Bhojan' (food prepared without adding onion and garlic). The second day is known as 'Khar Jiutiya'. This is the main day of this festival. The Vrata begins after performing the 'Sargi', The ritual of consuming water, tea, coffee, sweets or fruits, etc. in the dawn before starting the Vrata. The worship is performed on this day. The third day is the day when mothers break their fast. There are some rituals also done on this day. In this way, the Jiutia is performed.

The Legend 

There are some Legends revolve around this festival, one of them is a story of a female eagle and a female Fox. They lived in a Jungle situated beside the Narmada river. They were very good friends and used to go for searching food together. One day they saw a few women gathered beside the river and were performing the pooja of Juitia. Seeing this, the eagle and the fox also decided to observe the fast and perform the pooja. The Eagle observed the first successfully but the fox failed due to hunger and eight food after some months they both gave birth to their babies. The Eagle's babies lived for a long time but the fox's babies died after a few weeks.