Jitiya is a festival which is celebrated on the Saptami of Ashwin month. This festival is celebrated for three days. This fast begins with Nahay-Khay. On the second day of the fast, on Ashtami Tithi, women observe the Nirjala fast and worship Lord Shiva and Parvati. On the third day, Navami Tithi, women worship Lord Surya and break their fast. On this day women pray to God for the long life of their children. On the day of Paran, Noni Saga and Madua Roti are eaten. Jitiya is known by different names in different places like Sajivaputrika Vrat, Jiutiya or Jimutavahana Vrat. Mothers observe this fast for the safety of their children. Women worship Jimutavahana during Pradoshkaal of Ashtami.
There are many stories of Jitiya Vrat:- like the stories of the eagle and the fox.
Once upon a time, there lived an eagle and a female fox in the Himalayan forest near the Narmada River. One day he saw some women worshipping and fasting. Both of them liked it very much and they also took a fast. During the fast, Fox became hungry and ate a dead animal. Chile, on the other hand, observed the entire fast.
In the next life, both of them took birth in human form. Many of Chile’s sons were killed, but all the sons of the foxes died. This made Fox very sad and he decided to take revenge on Chile. She tried to kill the children, but she did not succeed. One day, the Eagle told the Fox about his former life. He said that he had observed Jitiya fast so that he could get the welfare of his sons. Fox also observed Jitiya fast and all his sons came alive.
Story of Jitiya Vrat from Mahabharata
Ashwatthama was very angry after his father died in the Mahabharata war. After his father’s death, he was taken to the Pandavas’ camp and killed five people. They thought that Shiva killed the Pandavas but the Pandavas were alive. When the Pandavas came to him, he came to know that Draupadi’s five sons had been killed. Seeing all this, Arjun in anger captured Ashwatthama and snatched away the remaining gem. Ashwatthama planned this as revenge for Abhimanyu’s plan to kill the saint in his wife’s womb. He uses Brahmastra to kill the child in the womb, which is said to be Uttara’s womb. But it was very important for that child to be born. Therefore Lord Krishna brought the dead child of Uttara back to life. Because of coming back to life after dying in the womb, Uttara’s sons were named Jeeviputrika and Parikshit. Since then Jitiya started fasting for the long life of the saint.
The region where it is celebrated
Some specialities of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Nepal are celebrated.
Jitiya festival in the current year
| Dates Ashtami Tithi Ashtami Tithi on | 6th October till 6:34 am |
| Ashtami tithi will end on | 7th October at 8:08 am |
