What is Vata Savitri Vratam?
Performed for the Long life of husband: A fasting day for married women, the ritual practiced for Savitri is meant for the well-being and long life of the husband. The fasting is assigned to Savitri and Satyavana her husband who was destined to die within one year but was brought back to life by her severe penance. The God of death, Yama is implored by Savitri when he is about to leave his body and due to her sheer determination and devotion to her husband, she wins him back to life and soon Satayavana regains his lost kingdom.
Legends
The vrata has been named after Savitri. Savitri was the beautiful daughter of king Aswapati of Madra Desa. She selected Satyawaan as her life's partner, a prince in exile who was living in the forest with his blind father Dyumatsen. She left the palace an lived with her husband and the in-laws in the forest. As a devoted wife and daughter in-law she took all pains to take care of them.
One day while cutting wood in the jungle Satyawaan head reeled and he fell down from the tree and then expired on the lap of his beloved wife, Savitri. Then appeared Yamraj, the death God to take away the soul of Satyaban from his body. Savitri, deeply hurt pleaded to Yamraj not to be separated from her husband. If at all he would take away the soul of her husband she would also follow. Yamraj, moved by the devotion of Savitri returned the life of her husband. Satyaban came to life again and both of them lived happily thereafter.
Customs & Rituals
All Hindu women observe this festival worshiping and propitiating Savitri as a Devi. On this day, early morning the women take purificatory bath and wear new clothes, new bangles and apply vermilion on the fore-head and the hair-parting line. Then Savitri is worshiped. Wet pulses and rice, mango, jackel fruit, lemon, banana and several other fruits are offered as Bhoga (offering). After observing fasting for the whole day they simply take the Bhoga. In the afternoon when all formalities of worship are over they bow low to their respective husbands and elderly people.
Regional Celebrations Of Vat-Savitri Puja
This festival is celebrated throughout India, especially in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Orissa. In south India this fast is known as Karadaiyan Nonbu and is observed by married women of Tamil Nadu and Karanataka.
Vat Savitri purnima is a festival of women. Vata Savitri Purnima is a very famous Hindu festival of India which can be celebrated across the country specially in Maharashtra. Vat Savitri purnima can be celebrated by the women on the full moon day of Jyeshtha mas. Vata Savitri Purnima is also known as vata purnima or vat purnima. on the day of Vata Savitri Purnima women pray for long life of their husbands and they pray that they never be widows. The significance of Vat Savitri purnima is connected to the legend story of Savitri and satyawan. in this story savitri got back her dead husbands life form yama.
On this day which is also usually a Pournami (Full moon day) the vata or we can say banyan tree is worshipped by women. women take fast for the three days, or at least on the last day. They break the fast when the poornima is over. women wake up early in the morning and take bathed and go to worship the Vata (banyan tree) in different groups. Vat Savitri purnima is meant only for the married women.
On this occasion of Vata Savitri Purnima women keep fast For their husbands, women wear bridal type dresses and jewelery. After breaking their fast, fruits, clothes and such other articles are given in charity in a bamboo basket to the Brahmin’s. Women worship a banyan (vata) tree, and listen to the story of Savitri in groups. after all this women can offer prayer and worship. during this puja women pray for good health of their husbands. women feed water to the tree, sprinkle red powder (kumkum) on it, cotton threads are wrapped round tree’s trunks and then they go seven times round and do the parikrama.
When is Vata Savitri Vrata in 2009?
- USA, Canada:(Fasting and Puja): June 6th 2009
- Europe: for fasting: June 6th 2009 for puja: June 7th
(For Europe: check your local panchang here and check if chaturdashi ends 2 hours and 24 minutes before sunset during afternoon on June 6th then take June 6th for fasting otherwise take June 7th )
- Gulf Countries, Africa, India, Australia, Newzealand, Fiji and rest of world:(Fasting and Puja): June 7th 2009
When is Vata Savitri Vrata in 2008?
USA / Canada / West Indies: Fasting: June 17th, Puja: June 18th 2008
Europe: Fasting: June 17th, Puja: June 18th 2008
Gulf Countries: Fasting & Puja: June 18th 2008
India: Fasting & Puja: June 18th 2008
Bangla Desh / Burma/ Singapore: Fasting & Puja: June 18th 2008
Malayasia, Fiji, China, Australia, Fiji, Japan: Fasting & Puja: June 18th 2008
Note: To find Rahukalam, Yamagandam, Durmuhurtham, and Gulikai Please click on the panchangam link on your left, and then scroll down to your city and click on your city. If you are from South India, Gujarat or Maharastra please click on Amavayant panchangam, and if your are from North India please click on poornimant panchangam. You will find Rahukalam, Yamagandam, Durmuhurtham, and Gulikai, Varjyam timings along with Abhijit Muhurtha and Amrit kala timings. We also provide information like local sunrise, sunset, Tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana, sun's rasi, moon's rashi, moodyami of guru and shukra. We also have everyday chogadia and lagna table. To learn how to read panchanga please visit this link.
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