Women celebrate the godhan kutne festival in mithilanchal

Women in Mithilanchal, a region spanning parts of Nepal and India, celebrated the traditional Godhan Kutne festival to honor their brothers.

Women gathered in village squares, alleys, and courtyards to perform the ritual of pounding cow dung and millet seeds in mortars. While performing this labor, the women sang traditional songs in the Maithili language to pray for the long lives of their brothers.

The festival serves as a cultural celebration of family affection and devotion across districts including Mahottari, Dhanusha, Sirha, and Saptari. After completing the pounding, sisters fed their brothers millet seeds while the brothers gave their sisters gifts or money. During the festivities, women sang folk songs that symbolize the health of their brothers and the responsibilities of the siblings. The event also included the Bhraatridwitiya festival, where women applied tika to their brothers' foreheads.

Local resident Sonia Yadav noted that the celebration strengthens family unity and helps the younger generation connect with their cultural identity.