India is a country full of festivals. People of different religions celebrate different festivals together with great joy. We have some famous religious festivals like Holi, Diwali, Christmas, and Dussehra etc that are celebrated by large community of people. As India is an agricultural country, we also celebrate harvest festival. Every state celebrates their harvesting festivals at different time of the year and known by different names. In the same way, we also celebrate some festivals that we need to keep fast with or without taking water or fruits. One of them is Jitiya Pooja which is counted among the toughest fast.
Ten Lines on Jitiya Puja in English
Here are some simple ten lines which make you understand this festival more clearly. We are providing here few sets for your ease.
Set 1
1. Jitiya puja is also known as “Jivitputrika Vrat” or “Jiutiya”.
2. It is observed in the month of Ashwin during Krishna Paksha.
3.This is the festival of mothers who perform fast for the long life of their son.
4. On this day, women perform nirjala (without drinking water) vrat.
5. Women wear new clothes on this day.
6. Worship or puja is done on the bank of any pond or river.
7. The festival of jitiya is based on the old story of king “Jimutvahana”.
8. In the evening, all the women gather at one place and then the priest recites the story of“Jimutvahana”.
9. A day before the fast, in the evening there is a ritual to offer special food or prasad to chilo (eagle) and shero (fox).
10. Women break their fast at the end of Ashtami means the next day.
Set 2
1. Jitiya Festival is celebrated in some Northern areas of India like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand etc. It is also popular in some parts of Nepal.
2. This puja is performed in the evening.
3. Women also make some specific type of prasad or food known as Datkhat.
5. This fast is known as Jivitputrika Vrat because of the old story of Uttara (wife of Abhimanyu) and his son, at the time of Mahabharata.
6. A special thread having a metal ornament known as Jitiya is wore by women few days before the festival.
7. Another story associated with this fast is the story of an eagle and a fox, also called chilo and shero by Hindus.
8. The fast begin from Saptami known as “Nahai-Khai” and the nirjala fast is on Ashtami and the Paran (breaking the fast) is on Navami.
9. Before breaking fast, women offer “Aarghya” to the Sun.
10. Women enjoy this fast by singing songs and dancing, making the environment happy.
As this is an annual festival, women prepare themselves for this puja. They clean their house, buy new clothes, and prepare delicious prasad etc.The temples and bank of water bodies get decorated with lights where the puja takes place. According to old mythology, women believe that on keeping this fast Lord Krishna will protect their son as He protected son of Abhimanyu and Uttara. They perform this fast by following old rituals with great devotion.
FAQs: Frequently asked questions
Ans. No, water is not allowed in jitiya vrat.
Ans. Married woman can perform jitiya fast.