The festival
of Bhratridwiteeyaa is celebrated between brothers and sisters mainly in
Mithila region (Northern India). It is celebrated on Dwiteeyaa tithi (2nd
day after Diwalee, Amaavashyaa). This is similar to Rakshaabandhan, celebrated
in another community. Brothers come to their sisters' home to have ‘Nyot= न्योत=Invitation' .
Sisters remain in fast till the celebration. Sisters make rangoli (Art drawn on
earth by wet grinded rice) on the floor. Brothers sit on the rangoli art wooden
seat. The tilak (Red lead drawn on the forehead) is drawn on the forehead of
the brother. Sisters give beetle leafs, nuts, pithar (wet powdered ground rice) in the hands of the brothers and wash
with water in the brass dish three times reciting some mantras –‘Jamunaa
notalani Yam ke, ham notai chhee bhaay ke. Jahina Ganga Jamuna ke badhi badhay
tahinaa hamaraa bhaiya ke auradaa badhay’. Jamuna invited her brother Yam, I
invite my brother. May my brother live long like the rising flood of the Ganges
and Yamuna’.
I remember my childhood
days of my village. Every brother used to go to his sister home. I had only one
sister at Maltole, Madhubani. Now she is no more. I used to go there without
fail, every year. In the village the festival was very charming. Those days,
there used to be common ‘Daalaan (Sitting place of guests and outsiders where
male members used to take rest). So many brothers from different villages
gathered on the daalaan. We enjoyed this occasion too much.
Now a day, brothers have
become busy. They have no time for these rituals. Sisters are also residing in
distant towns. Naturally, the festival is being paid less attention; thus,
deteriorating the affection between brothers and sisters.
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