Bhitauli (festival)

Bhitauli, also spelled Bhitoli or Bhitouli, is a folk tradition of Uttarakhand, India, from the Kumaon and Garhwal regions,^[1][2] that centers around a married woman's relationship with her maternal family. It usually takes place in the Hindu month of Chaitra,^[3] corresponding to March–April, when parents, brothers, and other relatives visit a married daughter or sister's house bearing elaborate gifts,^[4] including food and clothes, as well as fruits and sweets, often prepared at home.^[5] In the year of her marriage, a newlywed woman may receive Bhitauli in Baisakh,^[6] followed by its observance every year in Chaitra.

The word Bhitauli originates from the Hindi word “भेंट”, meaning “meeting” or “gift”,^[7] typically from the maternal side.^[8] These gifts are often reciprocated by the woman's in-laws or husband's family as a gesture of mutual respect, familial affection, and continued ties. ^[9]