JANAKPURDHAM: Sama-Chakewa festival remaining as a symbol of love, goodwill and closeness among brothers and sisters commenced in the Mithila region.

The festival that kicked off in the Kattik Shukla Panchami (fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Kattik) will be celebrated for ten days before concluding it in the 11th day or in the night of full moon day.

Sisters and daughters in the Mithila region engage en mass in traditional singing and dancing, wishing for happiness, prosperity and longevity of their brothers.

According to Pundit Ram Kumar Shastri, who is known to this festival, sisters/daughters form groups and visit paddy fields in open areas outside the village to collect mud dug out by their brothers in the first day of the festival.

They mix mud with water and make various figures of Sama and Chakewa. As per the traditions, ‘Sama-Chakewa’ figures are arranged in a red bamboo basket and lamps are illuminated. Devotees carry them at night to village squares, crossroads, junctions, schools, public rest houses, temples, and the Chhath ghats to perform songs and dances.

In this way, sisters engage in the ‘Samachakewa’ festivities for ten days, praying for the long life of their brothers.

In the morning of the eleventh day, new Sama-Chakeva figures are made and painted. In the evening, after serving dahi-chiura (yogurt and beaten rice) to their brothers, women perform the traditional phanr bharne ritual.

The brothers then break the Sama-Chakewa figures. Finally, the figures are ceremonially immersed amid music singing, and dancing, marking the conclusion of the festival.

Traditionally, married women return to their maternal homes to celebrate Sama-Chakewa. Even those living far away make the journey to their parents’ home to join the festive celebrations.

The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Mahottari, Sarlahi, Siraha, Dhanusha, Saptari, Bara, and Parsa in Madhesh Province, as well as in the bordering districts of India.