Concept · Folk · East India · Bihar and Jharkhand
Godhan kutai
The Bhai Dooj rite of Bihar and Jharkhand: sisters shape figures of cow dung (godhan, Yama and Yamuna, snakes and scorpions), curse their brothers aloud while fasting without water, pound the godhan with a pestle, prick their own tongues with a rengani thorn in penance, then pray for their brothers' long life and feed them gram, bajri and sweets.
Sources: Bhaiya Dooj: sisters pray for brothers' well-being in age-old festival, Patna Press, 3 November 2024; Bhai Dooj 2022: in godhan kutai sisters curse their brothers, then prick a rengani thorn into their tongues, Prabhat Khabar (and the Sasaram and Sitamarhi reports); Customs and traditions of Bhai Dooj in different states of India, Navbharat Live, 22 October 2025 · see Godhan kutai's web