Tragic drowning incidents claim 43 lives during festival in India

Altogether 43 people, including 37 children, drowned and three others went missing while taking holy dips in rivers and ponds in separate incidents during the “Jivitputrika” festival in East India.

The drowning cases were also reported from East and West Champaran, Nalanda, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Rohtas, Saran, Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gopalganj and Arwal districts, Caliber.Az reports via Indian media.

During the “Jivitputrika” festival, women fast for the well-being of their children and both take holy dips.

Notably, Jivitputrika Vrat, or Jitiya, is observed in the month of Ashwin according to the Hindu lunar calendar. This fasting is primarily practised in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, and it is also popular in Nepal.

Mothers undertake a day-long fast without water, breaking their fast early the following morning with rice flour porridge and cucumber.

This festival lasts for three days, with the first day known as Nahaye-Khaye, when participants bathe in a sacred water source or river before consuming clean, vegetarian food seasoned with pink salt. The second day involves strict fasting and heartfelt worship.

On the final day, individuals visit the sacred water source again, bathe, and partake in their first meal at an auspicious time. Mothers observe this stringent fast for the well-being of their children and families, which is why it is also referred to as "Jivitputrika Vrat."