Wed Sep 25 06:55:39 UTC 2024: ## Mothers Observe Jitiya Vrat for Their Children’s Well-being: Know the Rituals and Timing for 2024

**New Delhi, India (September 25, 2024):** The Jitiya Vrat, a significant religious observance dedicated to the well-being of children, is being celebrated across Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh today. This year, the fasting period commenced on September 25th, with the parana (breaking of the fast) occurring on September 26th.

Mothers observe a strict nirjala (waterless) fast throughout the day on the Ashtami Tithi of the Krishna Paksha in the Ashwin month (September/October) to seek longevity and prosperity for their children.

The auspicious time for the Jitiya Vrat puja is from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on September 25th, 2024.

**Rituals and Significance:**

* **Nहाय-खाय:** The day before the fast, women take a bath and consume a single meal, marking the start of the Jitiya Vrat.
* **Puja:** On the day of the fast, women clean their place of worship with cow dung and create a small pond. They place a figurine of Jimutvahana, made from Kusha grass, in the pond. The puja includes offerings of incense, lamps, akshat (unbroken rice), roli (vermilion), fruits, and flowers.
* **Jitiya Katha:** The story of Jitiya, often about the Chilho Siyaro (a creature that threatens children), is recited or listened to during the evening.
* **Parana:** The fast is broken on the morning of September 26th after sunrise. Traditionally, the parana meal includes rice, marua roti (flatbread made from buckwheat), and noni saag (amaranth greens).

**Importance of the Jitiya Vrat:**

The Jitiya Vrat is deeply rooted in the belief that it protects children from evil spirits and ensures their health and happiness. Mothers dedicate their fasting and prayers to the divine, seeking blessings for their offspring.

**Happy Jitiya to all who are observing this sacred fast.**

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