According to the tradition of celebrating Kartik Shukla Navami, Akshaya Navami festival is being celebrated in Mithila area including Mahottari today. This festival, also known as Dhatru Navami and Ichcha Navami in Mithila.
In the festival, there is a Maithil tradition of eating food at the base of the Amla (Dhatru) tree. On the occasion of the festival, the youths have been preparing for the mass meal in the village township of Mahottari district since this morning. During the festival, it is customary to cook and eat only vegetarian food including special amla dishes (pickles, marmalade, and chutney). Mahesh Kumar Jha of Bardibas Municipality-2, who is familiar with Maithil culture and traditions, said that this special festival has a message to increase the use of amla in food as the cold weather is disappearing.
In this festival, especially teenagers and youths are seen busy arranging forest picnics. Shiv Narayan Jha, a resident of Balwa Bazaar in Balwa Municipality of the district says that the participation of teenagers and youths in the cultural festival will help in the preservation, development and continuity of the culture.
In Mithila, this day is also called Kushmanda Navami. According to Dr. Rajendra Prasad Vimal, a well-known writer of Mithila art, literature, and tradition, there is a legend that Lord Krishna used to go around Mathura, Vrindavan, and Govardhan mountain range before killing Kansha by killing Kushmanda monster in the Dwapar era.
It is believed that Lord Vishnu lives on the tree of Amla from Kartik Shukla Navami to Purnima. On this day of Akshay Navami, it is believed that worshiping Lord Vishnu fulfills the desires and brings happiness to the children. Dr. Vimal says that this festival is also called Dhatru Navami due to the tradition of emphasizing the use of Ichcha Navami and Amla (Dhatru) as the desired wish is fulfilled. According to Maithil Yuva, the festival was started by the ancestors for health awareness as amla is a healthy food item.
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