Thursday 25th April 2024
October 08, 2019 marked a special celebration in the Mithila region on the occasion of Jatara or Yatra Parba, observed on the tenth day of Bada Dashain festival.
According to religious belief of Mithila, this day is considered auspicious as it is said that Goddess Durga travels back to her consort Lord Shiva on the day of Dashami, after visiting and staying in her maternal home for nine days.
People prepare clay statues of the Goddess and worship her on this day. The deity is then given a farewell by immersing her clay statues in rivers and ponds, reminiscent of her return to Lord Shiva’s abode.
As per religious belief, all the ten gates of heaven are opened on Dashain paving way for people to undertake new ventures, get married or start a journey.
People from the Mithila region consider it auspicious to site a Neelakantha bird. Devotees go to trees where these birds are perched to get a glimpse of the bird. It is believed that Lord Rama had seen this bird on his way to defeat Ravan.
As part of the religious practices of the day, devotees burn the effigy of Ravana, whom Lord Ram defeated after praying to Goddess Durga.
