
Mothers across Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring regions are observing the Jitiya (Jivitputrika) Vrat on Saturday, 3 October. The nirjala (waterless) fast is kept for the long life, health and prosperity of children. According to Aaj Tak, the Ashtami tithi of Ashwin Krishna Paksha began at 7:59 am on 3 October and ends at 5:51 am on 4 October, the main vrat is being held on 3 October based on Udayatithi and Pradosh Kaal.

The three-day ritual began with Nahay-Khay on 2 October. The main puja of Lord Jimutavahana is performed during Pradosh Kaal, between 6:05 pm and 8:29 pm on 3 October. The Abhijit Muhurat for taking the vrat sankalp is from 11:46 am to 12:34 pm. Parana will be done on Sunday, 4 October, after 7:28 am, TV9 Hindi reports. Both sources list puja items such as an idol of Jimutavahana, dhoop, deep, roli, sindoor, akshat, flowers, fruits and prasad.
Both Aaj Tak and TV9 Hindi present the Jitiya Vrat story as a straight religious calendar piece. The coverage is uniform: identical timings for the tithi, puja muhurat and parana, same description of the three-day tradition and puja items, and no political or official framing. Neither source adds a critical or sensational angle, both end with a disclaimer or a byline, not with a controversy. The balanced takeaway is that Indian religious observance reporting remains a neutral public service genre. Readers can rely on the common muhurat details provided, and the parana time on 4 October is the next concrete step.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): aajtak.in (neutral report), tv9hindi.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.