India is a culturally rich land. Many amazing festivals are celebrated here of which the citizens have not even heard about. A beautiful festival called Jamai Shasti is celebrated in Bengal which displays beautiful bonding of son-in-law with his in-laws.
The traditional festival of Jamaishasthi originated ages ago as a part of a women's socio-religious duty. The son-in-law is called Jamai and Shasti means sixth as this festival is observed on sixth day of shukla paksh in Jaistha month of traditional Bengali calendar.
This popular social custom lays foundation of a strong family bonding. All the son-in-laws get a treat from his in-laws or 'Shoshur bari'. The day is celebrated since older days by the Bengali families all over West Bengal. A party is organized the in-laws for their daughter and her husband.
Jamai Sasthi is like a wedding ceremony for the sons-in-law. Whether it is a new son-in-law or an old one, Bengali mothers-in-law celebrate this day,
Mother-in-laws cook special dishes and invite their daughter and Sons-in-law to honor them with a feast that essentially consists of Hilsa fish. The son-in-law is welcomed by his in-laws in traditional way with a phota of curd on his forehead and a yellow thread is tied on the right hand wrist and forehead.
The thread is coloured yellow with turmeric and is called ‘Shashti Suto’ which have blessing of Ma Shashti who takes care of children. Son-in-law is presented gifts, sweets and fruits and he too gives gifts to the mother-in-law. Then mother-in-law performs the ritual in which a plate having six fruits is touched with the Jamai’s forehead.
The day is observed as Aranya Sasthi in many other regions. The festival plays vital role in bringing the couple especially the son-in-law (Jamai) closer to the in-law family, thus helps in making family ties safe and sound. Bengalis are famous for their love for food.
After performing the rituals a small feast is organized. Best and favourite delicacies of one's son-in-law are prepared. The guests are then served exotic Bengali dishes. Various fish delicacies, prawn malaikari and the most famous Bengali sweet Sandesh are a must. The mother-in-law fanned her son-in-law with a palm leaf while he gorges on his food.
In old days the women used to prepare the sweets their own useing shredded coconut, ghee, cardamom powder, jeggery. Son-in-laws are the centre of everybody’s attention on the day. He thoroughly enjoys and loves the attention he is getting from his in-laws. The social activity was more intense in earlier times.
Jamai Sasthi Vrata Katha
Lord Ganapati,son of Gouri, married to Goddess Pusti for it was his mother's wish. But Lord Ganapati couldn't live a normal family life as his heart was beyond any bondage. Thus the mother-in-law of Lord Ganapati, Goddess Dharitri, became tensed and upset for her daughter's future.
At that time, Sasthi came to Dharitri and suggested her to do a Vrata at Jyestha Sukla Sasthi and ask her son-in-law to come to her and serve him food. If her son-in-law is pleased with this serving then her desire will be fulfilled. So Dharitri did this Vrata and asked Ganapati to come to her home with Pusti.
Ganapati came along with his wife, but somehow he knew what is happening. So when Dharitri started to serve him food, Ganapati also started his Leela. He was eating continuously but his hunger was not satisfied. He was asking for more and more food.
Dharitri gave all food to him, but Ganapati's hunger was still not gone,like he hasn't eaten anything. Pusti knew what is happening, so she told her mother to serve Ganapati food with Durva on it. Then his hunger will be gone. Dharitri did the same thing as her daughter told her.
And the hunger of Vinayaka was fulfilled at last. He was very pleased with this service of devotion, thus he said: One can not please me with all the worldly pleasures but can only make me happy with a single Durva offering with ardent devotion. Ask mother! I will give you anything. Dharitri then said: please make a family life with my daughter.
So shall it be - said Ganapati and disappeared from there. Pusti lived her father's home for few days then she also left to her husband's. At the next year on Kartik Sukla Sasthi she gave birth to Ganapati's twin sons - Shemankara and Subhankara.
Dharitri was pleased with this and she understood that her prayers had been heard and her vrata is being fulfilled. Thus this vrata became famous and now its known as Jamai Sasthi.
Story about Aranya Shashti
Everyone knows that children are born with the blessings of Shashti. With the blessings of Shashti, children are born in the lap of the mother. Therefore, in the hope of having children or for the welfare of the child, it was a custom in rural Bengal to celebrate 12 Shashtis a year. Like Durga Shashti and Neel Shashti, Aranya Shashti was one such Shashti. Once upon a time, this Shashti was celebrated in the middle of the forest.
If there was no forest, the mothers of the house would make a small garden in the yard or building and observe the vow there.
It is said that a housewife's husband used to repeatedly blame a black cat for stealing fish from his house and eating it. To take revenge for this, whenever the wife had a child, the black cat would pick up her child and hide it with her mother Shashti.
When the housewife came to know about it, she begged for forgiveness from Shashti Devi. Shashti Devi granted her forgiveness on two conditions. She ordered her to be worshipped on the day of Shukla Shashti. She also told her to respect the cat. The housewife started worshiping Shashti Devi. When the goddess was pleased, she got her child back in the forest. This is why Shashti Devi's other name is Aranya Shashti.
On the other hand, the in-laws stopped going to the housewife's ancestral house to steal fish and eat it. Then, the parents, anxious to see their daughter, invited their son-in-law on the day of Shashti Puja. The girl went to her father's house with her husband on the day of Shashti Puja. Since then, Shashti Puja has become Jamaisashti.
It is said that once, Shashti taught a housewife all the rules and regulations for observing the Aranya Shashti fast. While observing the fast on that special day, the mother-in-law invited her daughter and son-in-law to her house. When the son-in-law arrived, the woman asked him to eat mango and jackfruit with a drop of curd and sandalwood. Since then, the name Jamaishasthi has been closely associated with Aranya Shashti.
Jamai Sasthi Food
After mangalarati the everyday schedule changes for this special day. Seasonal fruits, kheer, water are served in silver plates. Then cheera, curd, mango, jackfruit, lichi are served.
Then the lunch time. A heavy and hearty lunch is served. Kochu sak, shukto, malaikari, chanar dalna, potoler dolma, wax gourd, chutney must be included. Moong Dal with Coconut, beguni, alu bhaja each item made with poppy seeds are also included. But the most importent is aam kheer. This preparation is made by adding mango pulp into the kheer.
In the afternoon some sweets and kheer are offered on silver plate.
In the night luchi or Radha Ballavi made with ghee, rabri and malpua are served.
