Jitiya Festival Celebrated in Kathmandu (PHOTOS)

The celebration of the Jitiya festival is marked in Kathmandu on Wednesday afternoon, This significant day is celebrated with great enthusiasm by women from the Terai and Madhesi communities.

Observed over three days, the main day of this festival, which falls on the Ashwin Krishna Ashtami, sees women observing a strict fast from morning till evening.

The rituals involve taking an early morning bath, collecting bel (wood apple) leaves, and remaining without food or water throughout the day. In the evening, they return to the river, bathe with soapnut, and offer the soapnut-infused water to the leaves. The day concludes with the listening of the Jitiya Tales.

On the following day, Navami, women wake up early, bathe in the river, create a formless idol, and worship it with black gram. Upon returning home, they break their fast with curd, rice, and bananas. This marks the end of the three-day Jitiya festival.

Jitiya is primarily celebrated by women from the Tharu and Madhesi communities residing in the Terai region of Nepal. They observe it to seek the blessings of the divine for their children’s long life, good health, success, and family happiness.

Photos by Barsha Shah/Deshsanchar