Mithila
is a region of festivals. In fact, the
maithils are said to observe more
festivals than there are days in the year. Hardly a day passes
without some festivities, ceremonial observances or pilgrimages
occurring in country so as its region in Mithila. The following is a
brief description of the major festivals observed in the Mithila.
Navabarsha (mid-April)
Nawa Varsa or Maithils (Mithila) new
year is celebrated every year with great enthusiasm. This great
according to the officially recognized Vikrama Era fall on the first
day of the first month the Maithils year (Baishakh) Which
corresponds to mid April around. As elsewhere, the New Year is
observed by exchange of greetings, singing and dancing.
For the people in Mithila however it
is more then this. They celebrate this occasion as beginning of hot
days by putting cold water in head by elders, and then playing with
water.
Nag Panchami (July/August)
(fifth day after the full moon of Shrawan)
In Hinduism, Nag (the divine serpent) is
glorified as the provider of rain. Nag is worshipped to provide a
good harvest during the monsoon season, and Nag Panchami, the fifth
day of the bright lunar fortnight, is set aside for worshipping
serpents. Devotees on this day paste pictures of Nag over their
doorways with cow-dung. As part of the rituals to propitiate the
divine serpents, milk, their favorite drink is offered to the
pictures. Failure to appease them may invite droughts and disaster
in the days ahead.
Devotees also teats sour food at early morning.
Janau Purnima, Rishi Tarpani (July/August)
(one day preceding the full moon of Shrawan)
On this day, Brahmins (The priestly
class) and Rajput have their annual ritual of changing their sacred
thread called the janau. This is also the day for Raksya Bandhan (a
safety thread bon). Most prefer their Brahmin priests to put it
around their wrists with the chanting of mantra (holy hymns).
Rishi Tarpani is
the day to pay ablution to Rishis, as the hermits practicing
self-denial are known. The full moon day thus sees hordes of Hindu
priests with their clean-shaven heads taking dips in the holy water
to purify their bodies before they get on with their business of
offering sacred yellow threads to their clients.
Krishna Ashthami
(August)
(seven days after the full
moon of Bhadra)
The birth anniversary of Lord Krishna,
the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is one of the greatest Hindu
festivals for the Hindus of Mithila. Krishna’s exploits as a child
when he subdued fierce demons and performed miraculous feats
specially endear him to his devotees. In his boyhood, Krishna killed
the evil king Kansa, his maternal uncle, to liberate the people from
his atrocities. During the 18-day war depicted in the great Hindu
epic Mahabharat, Krishna served as the de facto commander and
strategist for the righteous Pandavas.
Teej (August/September)
(2nd till the 5th day following the new moon of
Bhadra)
A blissful conjugal life, progress and
prosperity for her husband, good fortune for herself, and
purification of her own body and soul: these are what an ideal Hindu
woman is supposed to aspire for. Teej, the lively festival
exclusively for womenfolk, is a spiritual endeavor towards the
realization of their aspirations. For an unmarried women, compliance
with the age-old tradition ensures a good, loving and caring
husband.
The festival combines both sumptuous feasts and tormenting fasts. On
the first day of the three-day celebration, groups of women, both
married and unmarried, congregate at one place in their finest
attires. Amidst laughter, songs and music, the grand feasts begins.
The merry making goes on till midnight, from which time onwards the
women undergo a 24-hour fast.
The next day sees these women, in their crimson saris, singing and
dancing on the streets leading to Shiva shrines. The main activities
revolve around the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. On this
special day, the temple remains closed for all males, except the
Brahmin priests. Female devotees, as a mark of total devotion to
Shiva the Destroyer, circumambulate the lingam, the phallic symbol
of the Almighty, making offerings of flowers, sweets and coins, and
praying for their husband’s longevity, progress and prosperity.
The third and last day of the festival is called Rishi Panchami,
which is the fifth day of the waxing moon. On this day, women who
have undergone the agonizing fast pay homage to various deities
situated on the banks of sacred rivers. After a holy bath in the
rivers, they use a piece of datiwan (a sacred plant with religious
and medicinal significance), to sprinkle holy water all over their
body 360 times. The ritual helps them secure exoneration for all
sins they might have committed in the past year.
Chaurchan (September)
Its mean the fourth day moon of
August cosidered as a day sacred to Ganesha, The elephant headed god
of good luck. People celebrate this day offering various seasonal
fruits and flowers to all powerful Ganesha and pray for protection
from unnecessary evils.
Dasain (October)
Dasain glorifies the triumph of Good
over Evil, of Goddess Durga’s slaying of the terrible demon
Mahisasura, who roamed the earth, terrorizing the populace in the
guise of a ferocious water buffalo. Ten days of intense sacrificial
and joyous worship celebrate fertility and the victory of good over
evil, as represented by the goddess Durga Bhawani and the various
gods who battle the demons.
The first day of Dasain is called Ghatasthapana, which means
establishing of the holy water vessel which represents the Goddess
Durga. Barley seeds are planted in it.
The seventh day or Phulpati is the offering of flowers and leaves,
carried by runners from Gorkha, the ancestral home of the Shah Kings
of Mithila, and received by the King in Kathmandu.
On Maha Ashthami, the eighth day, the fervor of worship and
sacrifice to Kali and Durga increases. Animal sacrifices highlight
events of the ninth night to appease Durga, the Goddess of Victory
and Might. As animal sacrifices is not practice by many they replace
animals by vegetables.
Dasain takes its name from Vijaya Dashami, the Great Tenth Day of
Victory. This is the day when Lord Rama slew the demon Ravana and
when Durga vanquished the demon Mahisasura. On this day tika is
received from brahmins.
The tika symbolizing victory is a blessing of good fortune.
Deepawali
& Lakshmi Puja (November)
Tihar is known as the festival of lights
and is celebrated for five days. On the occasion of Laxmi Puja
houses are illuminated at night. An assortment of special sweets are
prepared and offered to guests. At this time certain animals are
also favored with food and garlands. The first day of Tihar is
dedicated to the crow, the second to the dog, the third to the cow
and the fourth to the ox. On the fifth day, women who have brothers
offer them tika and special food. In return the brother gives his
sister a token of appreciation usually in the form of money and
renews his commitment to protect her honor.
Chhath
Parva (November)
There is one Hindu festival that is that is known for its unique
association to Mithila. It is devoted to the worship of the Sun God.
It is, therefore, also known as Surya Shashti. The festival begins
on the sixth day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar.
This corresponds to the period beginning from late October to mid
November, depending upon the year. It is one of the holiest
festivals for Mithila and extends four days long. Details of each
day are elaborately given are
here :
There is one Hindu festival that is known for
its unique association to Mithila. It is devoted to the worship of
the Sun God. It is, therefore, also known as Surya Shashti. The
festival begins on the sixth day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu
lunar calendar. This corresponds to the period beginning from late
October to mid November, depending upon the year. It is one of the
holiest festivals for mithila and extends four days long.
Day 1
Devotees take a cleansing dip - preferably in the holy river, lake
or water tank ( Ganges )- and bring water to prepare the offerings.
Day 2
A fast is observed for the whole day and in late evening, the
devotees, after performing a worship at home, break their fast. The
offerings - typically a porridge of rice, puris (deep fried puffs of
wheat flour) and bananas - are shared among family and visiting
friends and relatives.
Day 3
It is spent in the preparation of offerings at home during the day.
In the evening the devotees move to a river bank (or a pond, lake)
with the entire family and friends. There the offerings are made to
the setting sun. At nightfall, the devotees along with the family
and friends return home where another colorful celebration takes
place. Under a canopy of sugar cane sticks, clay elephants
containing earthen lamps, and containers full of the offerings, are
placed. There the fire god is worshipped. Devotees maintain a strict
fast without even water.
Day 4
A procession similar to that conducted on the third day is
continued. Devotees, family and friends, move again to the river
bank. Offerings are made to the rising sun. At the completion of the
offerings, there is great celebration. The devotees break their fast
and the rich offerings are made available to the family, friends,
relatives and the onlookers! The offerings are also very
characteristic. They are: a deep fried and sweet rolls of stone
ground wheat flour, grapefruit, whole coconuts, bananas, and grains
of lentils. These items are contained in small, somewhat
semicircular, pans woven out of bamboo strips. Chhath is a very
colorful festival. New clothes are a must for the devotees. And the
family also are dressed in their finest on the visit to the river.
There is much music and a lot of singing of folk songs, both at home
and on the river bank. There is much gaiety even among so much
piety. This day brings an end to the four day festival that is
indeed a great fiesta for a part of mithila
Sita Vivaha Panchami (December)
(the 5th day following the new moon of Ashwin)
This festival, commemorating the
marriage of Sita to Ram. Ram, hero of the epic Ramayana and an
incarnation of Vishnu had come to Janakpur, was the kingdom of
Sita’s father King Janak, to marry Sita. The occasion attracts
thousands of pilgrims from India.
Maghe Sankranti or Tila Sankranti
(Mid January)
(first day of the month of Magh)
Maghé Sankranti is the first day of the
month of Magh. Magh is a sacred month so the first day is celebrated
with a feast at home that particularly constitute of til and brown
sugar. Lord Vishnu the Preserver is worshipped and thanked for the
return of the warm season once more. Through the month of Magh,
people busy themselves with religious activities such as taking an
early morning bath in holy rivers, visiting the shrines of Vishnu
and offering flowers, incense and food, and reading the Bhagavad
Gita.
Basanta Panchami & Saraswati Puja
(February)
(five days after the new moon of Magh)
Both festivals occur on the same day.
This is the day that ushers in the spring season. Basanta Panchami
is celebrated as beginning of autumn season. In Saraswati puja day
goddess of knowledge is worshipped. Many students fast on this day
and eat only one meal of pure vegetarian dishes to prove their
devotion.
Maha Shivaratri
(February)
(new moon day of Falgun)
Maha Shivaratri, or the Great Night of Lord Shiva, is
observed in honor of Lord Shiva’s day of birth. A great fair takes
place at the Pashupatinath Temple as thousands of pilgrims from all
parts of Mithila and India congregate in celebration.
Holi or Fagu-wa (March)
(full moon day of Falgun)
This is a colorful occasion when people
smear each other with colored powder and splash water balloons onto
one another and youths love to play. This continues for one full
week. The fever of this game goes very high on the full moon day
which is the last day of celebration. In this day people exchange
greeting as offer various sweets.
Ramnawami (March)
Ramnawami a big day for Hindu is
celebrated in honor of the great Hindu King Rama on the 9th day of
bright fortnight of chaitra (March). But the main deity to be
worshipped on this occasion is the all powerful mother goddess Durga,
the wife of Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the Hindu pantheon
because as and the holy Hindu scriptures say Rama was a great
devotee of Durga her blessings enabled Rama to kill his arch enemy,
Ravana, the most dreaded demon king on this day. This day is
symbolically commemorated as the victory of virtue over vice.