festival - Madhu Shravani

Madhu Shravani is a festival for the new bride on the first “sawan” after her marriage. This festival is associated with several nice songs. It continues for a fortnight during the month of Sawan. It is quite tough on the women. The village and family traditions prescribe some hard restrictions on the diet of the women.

The new bride needs to survive on a completely salt-less diet for the entire fortnight. In some families, a particular type of salt, named “sendha namak”, is permitted.

Various rituals continue during the fortnight of Madhu Shravani. These rituals have connections with certain stories related to Goddess Parvati. Songs are associated with each and every ritual

The ritual most commonly associated with Madhu Shravani is the act of collecting flowers in the morning. In villages, girls who have got married in the past year, go together to collect flowers.

Another ritual of Madhu Shravani is called “Chudi Daagna”. One of the thighs of the newly wed girl is touched with a burning substance like a rod. It is more of a formality and does not do any real harm.

The rituals of Madhu Shravani are performed at the parents’ place of the girl. The girl returns for this ritual, even after “dwiragaman” has taken place. It is not a rule, but a tradition.

Madhushravani is an important festival of Bihar. The whole of Mithilanchal celebrates this festival with zeal and fervor. It is observed in July and August and it denotes the advent of the monsoons.

Madhushravani continues for exactly thirteen days and concludes on Shravan Shukla Tritiya. The newly married brides worship Surya, Gauri, Shanti Kalash, Chandrama, Navagarh, a number of Nags such as Nag Dampati, Bairasi with hundred brothers, Pingla, Chanai, Lili, Kusumawati, Gosauni Nag with seven sisters and Shashthi or Sathi.

Stories are narrated and women feast on the first and last days. Presents are sent from the groom’s family to the bride’s family.

Madhushravani has a special essence that bridges traditions and religion in a wonderful way.

Presents are sent from the groom’s family to the bride’s family. It’s a custom that brides stay at their parents’ place during the month of Shravan or at least during the festival.

The bride is supposed to eat only those things that have been sent from her husband’s home. A minimum of five married women(sadhwa) accompany the bride while she takes her food.

The festival concludes on Shravan Shukla Tritiya with lavish puja and feasting. The presence of the groom is considered essential on this day.