It was the early September two years back, I was moving
to Deulghata from Ajodhya Hills en route Sirkabad. The journey was pleasant, the foothill of
Ajodhya was greenery; I found upright dense sugarcane plants standing with
unique configuration everywhere- I was ecstatic to see the natural beauty
stretched along the road , and felt romantic all through as well. Suddenly I saw queued motor vans,
carts and matadors , farmers hurriedly
running ,their faces were not visible, only huge sugarcane bunches seen on head , faces were coved with drooping leaves,
they were busy in uploading canes brought from the fields onto the vehicles. I halted and met some farmers who were cutting baby sugarcanes .
“What
happened? Why are you cutting immature canes? Where will those go?”_ i asked
-“Tomorrow is
Jita Asthami.. there is high demand for sugarcane plants. It is better to sell
off now at high price.”-quick response came out.
I understood the
importance of Sugarcane and its relationship with Jitha Asthami.
Jitha Asthami
is a popular ceremony throughout Purulia. It is religiously observed across
classes. Jitha Asthami brat is a strict celebrartion..this brat is a ‘Nirjala
upabas’- complete fast without taking water or drinking. It is celebrated on
the eight day of Aswin (Bengali calendar) for the well being of children.
Married women participate in the ceremony.
Fulkumari of
Dumurdihi celebrating this fast this year.
Jitaasthami brata starts at the end of Saptami and continue so long
astami lasts. According to her, last year it was about 36 hours long fasting,
however, the period is limited to 24 hrs this year. I inquired from her whether
males could participate in jita Asthami
brata or not. She said “ in case of emergency, males do sometimes..but rare”.
The norms of
celebration differs from area to area. Local customs govern the rituals.
Normally,the brata as well as puja is held in the premises of household.
However, in Dumurdihi, the community joins the festival. Women in a group come to the Garamsthan
(local deity) and put twigs of karam or
bat there. Odd number of sugarcane
plants are put there, it is fastened and
marked with turmeric. An image
of Jimutbahan is made with the kush. Soaked & sprouted Kulthi, gram, rajma etc.
are placed and offered to the deity. The fast is broken with taking mixed
sprouted pulses. Cucumber is chewed on the moment of ending fast.
Women observing Brata receive new clothes from their paternal home. Prasad is sent to relations .
In Baghmundi, it is a kind of worshipping
nature. Differnt types of twigs are planted at the alter of Tulshimanch. Mantras
are iterated by Laya. They recall Ma Durga,
Raja Jimutbahan for children’s well being.
In Bishnupur
, Devi Durga is welcomed from this auspicious day. Candles in front of the
temple are lit in the evening daily till Dasami is over.
In Jharkhand
it is called Jitia festival.
I wonder how
mothers do sacrifice and undertake pains for their children.
