Siliguri. The ritual of 'Godhan Kutna' was performed in several Hindi-speaking majority areas of North Bengal. Associated with the bond between brothers and sisters in Bihari folk traditions, this is a ritual that usually surprises anyone upon hearing it. On the occasion of Bhai Dooj, women observe the tradition of Godhan Kutna. In this, sisters first curse their brothers with death and then pray for their long lives by pricking their own tongues with a thorn. While this ritual may sound strange, a special folk belief is attached to it.
The tradition of Godhan Kutna coincides with Bhai Dooj. On this day, women make figures of Yamraj, Yamuna, snakes, and scorpions using cow dung in the courtyard of the house. Thereafter, the ritual of pounding these figures with a pestle begins. During this time, sisters hurl abuses at their brothers and speak ill of them. This ritual is called Godhan Kutna. In many areas of Bihar, this tradition is still practiced with folk faith. It is believed that due to the curse uttered by the sister, Yamraj is unable to take her brother away from the fear of death. With this belief, sisters speak harshly to their brothers. However, afterwards, the sisters symbolically prick their tongues with the thorn of a Mexican prickly poppy plant. This is considered atonement (expressing regret for the mistake) for the harsh words uttered from their mouths. Thus, the sister who cursed her brother moments ago later applies a tilak on his forehead, praying for his protection and prosperity, and feeds him fried chickpeas (bajri) and jaggery as prasad.
This tradition is associated with Yamraj, the son of the Sun God, and his sister Yamuna. According to mythological beliefs, Yamuna loved her brother Yamraj very much and often invited him to her house for meals, but due to being busy with work, Yamraj could not visit her house. Once, on the Dwitiya date of the Shukla Paksha of Kartik month, Yamuna again invited her brother for a meal. This time Yamraj accepted his sister's invitation and reached her house. Yamuna welcomed him, applied a tilak on his forehead, performed aarti, and lovingly fed him. Pleased with his sister's affection and hospitality, Yamraj asked her to make a wish. Then Yamuna expressed the desire that any sister who applies a tilak to her brother and honors him on this day should not fear Yamraj. Yamraj granted this boon to his sister.
