In the ancient Mithila region of Madhes, the Dashain festival is known as ‘Dashahara’. Today, on the sixth day of the Sharadiya Navaratri, locally called ‘Shashthi Tithi,’ the traditional ritual of ‘Belnaut’ is being observed with great enthusiasm. This ritual, which dates back centuries, is an integral part of the Mithila culture and is performed to open the eyes of the clay idols of Goddess Durga.
The tradition involves using a ‘bel’ (wood apple) fruit to symbolically open the eyes of the goddess’s idol on the seventh day, known as ‘Saptami.’ The preparation begins a day earlier, on the sixth day of Navaratri. In this ritual, devotees climb a nearby bel tree after midday and tie a ripe bel fruit with a red cloth while performing sacred chants. This bel fruit is then used the next morning to ceremonially open the eyes of the goddess.
According to Dinesh Jha, a resident of Bardibas-2 and an expert in Mithila rituals, once the eyes of the idol are opened, the statue is considered fully alive and ready for public worship. This tradition is essential in Mithila’s Dashahara celebrations, particularly for clay idols created specifically for this festival.
On the morning of Saptami, the bel fruit that was tied a day earlier is brought back with pomp and ceremony, accompanied by music. The priest, or ‘purohit,’ then uses the bel fruit to gently open the eyes of the clay idol, marking the completion of the ritual. Only after this are the idols made available for public viewing and worship. This process of picking the bel fruit is known as ‘Beltodi,’ explains Krishna Chandra Jha, an 80-year-old former administrator from Jaleshwar-4, Mahottari, and a scholar of Mithila traditions.
The ‘Belnaut’ ritual is mainly observed for clay idols of Goddess Durga that are specially crafted for Dashahara. However, idols made of wood or metal, which have pre-carved eyes, do not require this ritual. Despite this, it is still customary to place the bel fruit near these idols during the festival.
The Dashahara festivities in Mithila culminate with the immersion of the idols, known as ‘Moorati Bhasao,’ in rivers or deep ponds on the day of Vijaya Dashami. As the festival progresses, the Mithila region is buzzing with preparations, and the vibrant celebrations are in full swing.
Source: RSS
