'Jitiya' festival begins in Mithila

 The 'Jitiya Parva,' a religious and cultural festival which is observed by married women in the Mithila region has formally begun today.

The festival that is celebrated wishing for longevity of offspring and family happiness and peace has started in various places in the Mithila region, including Mahottari with the observance of the 'Nha Kha' ceremony that means to take food after taking a bath with established rituals.

The festival falls on the seventh, eighth and ninth day of the waning moon (Krishna Pakshya) in the month of Ashwin in the lunar calendar.

Prior to observing a fast, women devotees take a holy bath in nearby rivers, ponds, or lakes and then offer beaten rice, curd, food substances made from mango juice, jiggery, mustard oil and so on to the Lord Jitamohan and the departed ancestors on a leaf of sponge guard.

The Jitiya Brat (fast) begins from 4:00 am on Friday and will conclude after 10:00 am on Saturday, according to Jaleshwornath Mahadev temple's priest Upendra Pathak. ---