Saharsa, 17 October (Hindustan Reporter). In Mithila, Kojagara festival is celebrated with pomp and joy on the full moon day of Ashwin month for the happy life of newly married people.
Mithila's saying is 'Pag Pag Pokhar Maach Makhan, sweet words, Muski Mukh Paan, this is good'. Kojgara festival has special significance as it embodies the Mithila identity. This festival is one of the festivals celebrated for newly married couples in Mithila. Kojgara, the festival of Mithila culture and civilization, was celebrated on Wednesday.
It is said that this time Kojagara will be celebrated all night after 7:10 in the evening during Pradosh time. It is being celebrated by some people even today. For this reason, Maithili Bhagwati songs are being sung by mothers and sisters in the evening in the courtyards of families associated with Mithila culture. According to the information, this festival is mainly celebrated in Maithil Brahmin families for the newly married groom. Celebrated at home.
On this day, gifts of paan, butter, coconut, banana, curd, fish, clothes, sweets, fruits and cowries come from the in-laws of the newly married groom. Ashtadal Aripan is served in the courtyard with a rice bowl. A basket of colorful sweets brought from the groom's in-laws house is placed on the Aripan. The groom is dressed in new clothes like dhoti, kurta, paag, chadar etc. brought from his in-laws house and is made to sit on a wooden platform. The women of the house and society perform rituals with the newly married groom amidst Maithili Bhagwati Geet, Sohar, Jhumar etc. and pray for the happy and prosperous life of the newly married. The same women also play Pachisi through cowries. They enjoy amidst laughter and jokes. After this, paan, makhan, sweets etc. are distributed among the relatives and villagers.
According to one's capacity, a feast of fish and curd is also organized as per Mithila tradition. It is told by the scholars that on this festival special ones are sent off with makhana, paan, sweets, fruits, clothes and jewellery. When he reaches his home, all this is offered to his family deity. All those materials are distributed in the society as Prasad. On the other hand, if experts are to be believed regarding the specialty of Makhan, Makhan contains micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus as well as protein and fiber. Due to which many types of nutrients are available in the body.