This Janaki Jayanti Redefine The Idea Of 'Good Woman'

Janaki Jayanti is celebrated on Krishna Paksha Ashtami of Phalguna Month according to the Hindu Lunar calendar followed in North India. This year, Janaki Jayanti will be celebrated on Saturday, March 6, 2021. Etymologically Janaki Jayanti means the birthday of Goddess Janaki, the other name of Goddess Sita in Ramayana.

How it is celebrated?

On this day women observe fast to seek the blessing of Goddess Sita and imbibe the purity, happiness and morality that the deity embodies. On this day, devotees set up a mandap, decorate it and install the idols of Goddess Sita, Lord Rama, Sita’s father Lord Janaka and a plough. Then, the devotees worship the deities and offer flowers and fruits and Prasad. Sita mantra is also chanted by the devotees to please Goddess Sita. A bhog (sacred meal) is prepared on this day without onion, garlic and ginger.

The story behind Janaki Jayanti

It is believed that Goddess Sita was a reincarnation of Goddess Laxmi in human form in the treat yug. Lord Janak, the king of Mithila, found Goddess Sita in a golden casket while ploughing a field for conducting yajna. King Janak adopted her and named her Sita, which means plough. Moreover, Sita is also known as Janaki because she was the adopted daughter of King Janak.

Watching from the feminist lens

The interpretation of Sita has been divided into a woman who was oppressed by patriarchy and a woman who defied it. Many readings consider Sita as the ideal and moral woman of patriarchy whose existence values only if she remains within Lakshman Rekha. However, some readings have perceived Sita as a feminist woman who dared to choose and stand by her choices.

Sita was a defiant and brave woman who posed an unbeatable resistance to Ravana’s advances. Moreover, she spent half of her life as a single mother to two sons in an ashram in the middle of the forest which is not normal in many sections of society even today. Devdutta Pattanaika has rightly portrayed Sita as the woman who chose as she makes five important choices in Ramayana. Firstly, she chooses to go to the forest and accompany Ram on his 14-year exile. Secondly, she chooses to cross the Lakshman Rekha. Thirdly, she chooses to not return to Ram with Hanuman. Thirdly, she chooses to go into exile and also come back to Ayodhya. And lastly, she chooses to go under the earth.

If women hail Sita as a role model of ‘good woman’, it is important for them to understand what good woman means. Being a good woman doesn't mean sacrifice of choices, submission to power and silence on harassment. A good woman is a feminist who has a will and choice and stands by it without being oppressed by patriarchal expectations.

This Janaki Jayanti, let us redefine 'good woman' and imbibe the power to stand by our choices from Sita

Find all the dates of the festivals in March 2021 here.

Find all the dates of the festival in year 2021 here.