Vat Savitri Vrat

Vat Savitri Vrat, or Vat Savithri Poornima, is a fast observed by married Hindu women in North India for the wellbeing of their husbands and children. The fasting is based on the devotion and determination shown by Savitri to win back her husband Satyavan from the clutches of yama (god of death). The legend is mentioned in the Mahabharata. The prayer and pujas associated with Vat Savitri is observed at the community level or individually at home.

Vat Savitri Vrat Fasting is for three days and it begins on the trayodashi day and ends on Amavasi or Purnima. Some sections of Hindu society observe the vrat during Amavasi (new moon) and others during Purnima (full moon) in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha (June ' July).

The fast is observed for three nights and is broken on the fourth day. The number of days the fast is observed depends on the person who is observing it. Nowadays, many women only observe the fasting on the important day of Purnima.

There are no rigid rules regarding any Hindu fast. Pregnant women, those women having any ailments or diseases and those who have just delivered a baby usually skip this fasting and they just concentrate on prayers. Working women also avoid the fasting.

On the Trayodashi day, after morning activities, women apply paste of amala (Indian gooseberry) and gingli (sesamum) and take bath.

After this women eat the roots of Vata Vriksha (Banyan Tree) and drink water. In fact, for three days many women only eat just this.

Women then worship the Banyan Tree (Vat Vriksha). After praying to the Banyan Tree, a red or yellow colored thread is tied around the tree. Then water, rice and flowers are offered as part of the puja. Women then go round the tree and chant prayers.

Vat Vraksha or Banyan tree symbolically represents the Trimurtis ' Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The root is Brahma, the stem is Vishnu and the upper portion is Shiva. The whole tree is also symbolically taken as Savitri.

At home, a painting of banyan tree is made on a plate or wood using sandalwood paste or turmeric. Pujas are done to the painting of banyan tree for three days. Special dishes are also prepared during the occasion.

The routine is followed on the Trayodashi, Chatrudashi and Amavasi or Purnima.

The fast is broken on the fourth day after offering water to moon and prayers to Savitri.

Apart from this all fasting women take the blessings of elders and other married women. Special dishes are prepared on the day and distributed among friends and relatives after the pujas.

Many people also distribute food, clothes and money to the poor during Vat Savitri.

Finally, never torture one's body in the name of customs and traditions. Fasting is good for health and it also helps in spiritual quest. But one should not attempt it, if one is not capable of doing it. Prayers, kindness to all living beings and simplicity are also Vratas and one can observe it on all days.

Vat Savitri Vrat in North India and is observed by married women for the wellbeing of their husbands and for a happy married life. On the day, women observe fast and worship Banyan Tree (Vat) and Savitri. The story of Satyavan and Savitri is a sub plot in the Mahabharata.

King Ashtapati had a beautiful and intelligent daughter named Savitri. The King gave her the permission to choose her husband. One day, Savitri met a young man in the forest who was carrying his blind parents in two baskets balanced on either side of a stick. The young man was Satyavan.

Impressed by Satyavan's devotion towards his blind parents, Savitri decided to marry him. On enquiry, the King found out from Sage Narada that Satyavan was the son of a deposed king and that he was destined to die in a year.

King first refused to give permission for the marriage but Savitri was adamant. Finally, the King relented and the marriage was conducted and the couple left for the forest.

They led a happy life and soon a year passed. Savitri realized that the date Sage Narad had predicted that Satyavan would die will fall in three days time.

Three days before the predicted day of death of Satyavan, Savitri started fasting.

The day Satyavan was destined to die, Savitri followed him to the forest. While cutting woods from a Vat Vriksha (Banyan Tree), he fell down and fainted. Soon, Savitri realized that Satyavan is dying. Suddenly she felt the presence of Yama, the god of death. She saw him carrying the soul of Satyavan and she followed Yama.

Yama first ignored Savitri thinking that she will soon return back to her husband's body. But she persisted and kept on following him. Yama tried few tricks to persuade her but nothing worked. Savitri remained adamant and said that she will follow her husband where ever he goes.

Then Yama said that it is impossible for him to give back the dead as it is against the nature's law. Instead, he will give her three boons and she should not ask to return her husband's life as a boon.

Savitri agreed.

With the first boon she asked that her in-laws be reinstated in their kingdom with full glory.

With the second boon she asked for a son for her father.

Finally, for the third boon she asked 'I would like to have children.'

Yama immediately said 'granted.'

Then Savitri said, 'now that you have granted me the boon of having children please return my husband as I can only have children from him.'

Soon Yama realized that he had been tricked by Savitri, a pativrata.

Yama remained silent for a minute and then smiled and said 'I appreciate you persistence. But what I liked more was you readiness to marry a man whom you loved even though you knew that he would only live for a year. Go back to your husband he will soon wake up.'

Soon Savitri returned to the Vat Vriksha were her husband was lying dead. She started going round (pradakishna) the Vat Vriksha and when she completed the pradaksihna, Satyavan woke up as if from sleep.

Soon Savitri and Satyavan were reunited.

People worship Vat Vriksha and perform Savitri puja in memory of this event.