Married Mithilani Celebrate Bersait Festival in Mahottari

Mahottari. In the ancient Mithila region of Madhesh, including Mahottari, married Mithilani are celebrating the 'Bersait' festival today. This festival is celebrated on the new moon day of Jestha with the wish for eternal good fortune.

In this festival, also known as Vat Savitri, married Mithilani (women of Mithila) gather near the Vat Vriksha (Banyan tree) of their respective settlements and celebrate collectively. Dressed in new clothes, Mithilani collectively sing songs describing the noble character of Sati Savitri and wish for their eternal good fortune. On this occasion, the story of Savitri is narrated and listened to.

Based on the belief that Sati Savitri received the boon of eternal good fortune on the new moon day of Jestha through her penance and practice in the Satya Yuga, Mithilani celebrate this festival with the same wish. After observing purity and making a vow on the day of Jestha Krishna Chaturdashi, the fasting Mithilani, observing a fast without food on the new moon day, collectively worship Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, along with other deities, remembering Savitri at the foot of the Vat Vriksha near their settlement.

The tradition is that the fasting individuals complete this vow on the morning of Jestha Shukla Pratipada with the sunrise. However, this year, as Adhikamas begins from tomorrow, the vow will be completed before sunrise tomorrow, according to Pandit Maheshkumar Jha of Bardibas-2, an expert in Maithil rituals.

The tradition of this festival is based on the mythological story of Sati Savitri, who pleased the deities with her penance and brought back her deceased husband Satyavan to life, receiving the boon of eternal good fortune. According to the Maithil belief that Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, the three deities, reside in the Banyan tree, the vow, worship, and conclusion of this festival are performed in the same place.

This festival, celebrated under the Banyan tree by listening to the Vat Savitri story while dancing and singing with friends, also serves as an opportunity for Mithilani to meet, have fun, and share their household joys and sorrows with each other. Dulari Thakur of Bardibas-9, Pashupatinagar, says that along with preserving the ancient festival culture, this festival also provides an opportunity for mutual meetings and open conversations.

In Mithila, this festival, which was celebrated only by women of Brahmin, Kayastha, and Sonar castes until a few decades ago, is now being celebrated by women of all castes. Principal of Yagyavalkya Lakshminarayan Vidyapeeth, Matiyani, Hemanarayan Lal Karna, says that in recent times in Mithila, with the increasing mixed settlements of various castes, people have started learning each other's culture and traditions, leading to this festival being celebrated by all castes. He states that the festival conveys the message of preserving cultural unity and tradition.