Jitiya Vrat 2026: Dates and rituals for the Jivitputrika festival

Jitiya Vrat, also known as Jivitputrika Vrat, will be observed on October 3, 2026. This Hindu festival, observed during Pitru Paksha, involves women undertaking a rigorous waterless (nirjala) fast to pray for the longevity, health, and prosperity of their children.

The festival follows a three-day tradition. The process begins with Nahay-Khay on October 2, followed by the main fast on October 3. The fast concludes with Parana on October 4. During the observance, devotees worship Lord Jimutavahana and the Sun God.

Rituals include bathing, wearing clean clothes, and performing evening prayers using idols made of clay, cow dung, or Kusha grass. The festival is widely celebrated in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as in Nepal.