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.
