Vat Savitri is one of the most significant fast observed by married women for the long life of their beloved husbands and the well-being of their family members. On this day, women worship Vat, the Banyan tree and treat it as symbolic of trimurtis- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. This day honours the dedication of Savitri who saved her husband from the clutches of Yamaraj.
Vat is the Sanskrit term for a Banyan tree while 'Savitri' was the woman who fought against death to bring her husband back to life and hence the festival is named as ‚ÄėVat Savitri‚Äô. Vat Savitri is celebrated on the Vaishak Vaidya Chaturdashi Amavasya (no moon night) every year, as per the Hindu Purnimanta calendar.
The southern part of the country celebrates the same festival on Purnima (the full moon day) while in the north it is celebrated on the Amavasya (no moon day) of Krishna Paksha in the month of Vaisakh.
Savitri, the daughter of King Asvapati, married Satyavan who was cursed to die a year after his marriage. As one year of his marriage completed, Satyavan felt weak and died in the lap of his wife. Savitri did not accept this and rebelled to the God of death, Yamaraj. She went behind Yamaraj and pleaded to him to not take her husband away. Impressed by the dedication of Savitri, Yama granted her three boons, but kept a condition in front of her "you'll not ask for the life of Satyavan". Then, Savitri wittily asked for 100 children of her and Satyavan. Surprised by her devotion Yamaraj granted her another boon and this time he didn't keep any conditions and therefore Savitri asked for the life of her husband.
Preaching the commitment and love for her husband that Savitri entitled, married Hindu women celebrate the festival of 'Vat Savitri' every year.
Puja vidhi
- Before sunrise women take bath with Sesame (til) and gooseberry (amla) added in water.
- They wear new clothes, bangles, sindoor etc.
- Fasting women eat roots.
- Puja is done under Banyan tree. Where tree is not available, a stick of Banayan tree is dig in soil and where this is also not available, a portrait of Banyan tree is made on wood with turmeric and sandal wood paste.
- Some women place idols of Satyavan and Savitri, offer vermilion along with other things to them.
- Water, flowers, rice, gram seeds and special dishes made at home are offered to Banyan tree.
- Women do parikrama around the Banyan tree with chanting and winding yellow and red thread around it.
- They listen story of Satyavan and Savitri.
- Prasad is distributed.
- Women donate food, clothes etc to poor people.
Women celebrate this vrat with immense joy and dedication.
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