What is the Jivitputrika Festival?

About Jivitputrika Festival:

• Jivitputrika, or Jitiya Vrat, is a Hindu festival observed primarily in the northern and eastern parts of India, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Nepal.
• It is celebrated by mothers who fast for the well-being, long life, and prosperity of their children.
• The festival spans three days, with the main ritual involving a strict ‘nirjala’ fast, meaning no water is consumed during the fast. 
• The fast is considered an expression of a mother's devotion and love, with the belief that it will bring divine blessings upon her children. 
• The festival is rooted in Hindu mythology, particularly the story of King Jimutavahana, whose sacrifice for the welfare of others is commemorated during this time. 
• The celebration begins with Nahai-Khai, where mothers take a purifying bath and eat a nourishing meal. 
• The second day is marked by the rigorous fasting ritual, and the festival concludes on the third day with Paaran, where the fast is broken with a meal.