The important Hindu festival of Jamai Shashthi is celebrated in West Bengal. According to the Hindu calendar, this festival is celebrated on the sixth day of the month of Jyeshtha. This year the festival will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 12.
The sixth day of the lunar month is called Shashthi, and the name Jamai refers to son-in-law. Jamai Shashthi is a joyous and festive occasion that holds special significance for Bengali culture. Every year, families gather to celebrate the occasion.
Importance of Jamai Shashthi
According to mythology, once a woman insisted that her cat was eating all the food in her house. Goddess Shashthi, who is believed to ride a cat, became angry at this. After the woman gave birth to a child, it disappeared. She performed rituals to please Goddess Shashthi. The goddess returned her child, but the woman’s in-laws were not happy and did not let her meet them. The parents called their son-in-law and daughter home and celebrated Shashthi Puja, which is known as Jamai Shashthi which symbolizes happiness and homecoming.
The mother-in-law seeks blessings from Goddess Shashthi in Shashthi Puja so that her son-in-law and daughter-in-law remain happy. The mother-in-law prepares a lavish feast that includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and she warmly greets the son-in-law. The ritual of giving gifts reflects the essence of the occasion, which is to celebrate the joy of sharing a meal with family.
Jamai Shashthi 2024 Rituals
In West Bengal, Jamai Shashthi is an important festival, especially for the Bengali community. The customs associated with Jamai Shashthi are as follows:
Invitation and welcome
The mother-in-law invites her son-in-law and daughter to visit her home during Jamai Shashthi. When they arrive, they are welcomed with great warmth and hospitality.
1. Morning rituals
The mother-in-law performs puja and bathes in honour of Goddess Shashthi early in the morning. A great variety of traditional Bengali dishes are cooked in the house.
2. Prasad offered to Goddess Shashthi
A dish made from rice, durbo (grass) and five different types of fruits is offered to Goddess Shashthi.
3. Blessings
Apart from blessing her son-in-law and wishing him health and prosperity, the mother-in-law presented her son-in-law with grains and durbo grass.
