Vat Purnima or more commonly known as Vat Savitri Purnima Vrat is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated by married women all over India. Though the festival is celebrated with jest all over India, it is more popular in Nepal, north Indian states, and a few western states like Maharashtra, Goa, Kumaon, Gujarat, etc as well.
The festival is celebrated to honor goddess Savitri who according to the Hindu scriptures brought back the life of her husband, Satyavan, from the claws of the Lord of death; Yamraj himself.
The Story Behind The Vrat
As per the scriptures, Savitri was a pious and devoted wife married to Satyavaan who didn’t have a long life. Once when he was working in the forest, the lord of death, Yamraj, came to take his life but Savitri happened to be there as well and she followed Yamraj everywhere. Even when Yamraj asked her to leave, she didn’t budge. Her devotion and faith in God were unwavering.
Looking at this, Yamraj granted her three wishes in exchange for the life of her husband. For the first two wishes, Savitri wished for her father-in-law’s eyesight and lost kingdom to be restored. For her final wish, she asked to be the mother of a hundred sons. Yamraj granted all three without thinking much of it. Later, he realized that she can’t become a mother if he doesn’t return her husband’s life. So he returns to her husband’s life. Thus, it is a story of faith, devotion, and quick wit.
Significance of Vat Purnima
The celebration is based on the legend of Savitri and Satyavan as narrated in the epic Mahabharata. Married women observe Vat Savitri Purnima Vrat to ensure the health and long life of their husbands. They do so by offering prayer to the Vat (banyan) Tree.
According to the Hindu faith and scriptures, the Vat vriksha (banyan tree) is considered an auspicious tree in Sanatan dharma. It is believed that the Trimurti, i.e, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva, live in that. And as per Hindu mythology, the Banyan Tree (vat vriksha) is believed to be a long-lived tree and thus, due to its immortality, women worship it. Due to this reason, the Banyan tree is also known as Akshay Vat.
When is it celebrated?
The name of the festival kinda gives that away, Purnima means full moon. It generally falls on the full moon of Jyestha in the month of May-June.
How is Vat Savitri Purnima celebrated?
Since it is a festival observed and done for husbands thus it is celebrated by women. They keep a fast of three days for their husband and tie threads around a banyan tree and pray for the well-being of their husbands.
During the three days, pictures of a banyan tree, goddess Savitri, Satyavan, and Yamraj are drawn with a paste of sandals and rice on the floor or a wall in the home. The golden engravings of the couple are placed in a tray of sand. And then they use mantras and vat leaves to worship.
In the outdoors, a banyan tree is worshiped. A thread is wound around the trunk of the tree, and copper coins are offered. Strict adherence to the fast as well as the tradition is observed for the long life of their husbands. It is believed as a result of the rightful execution of their festival their husbands will live until the next seven births.
Women generally dress up in fine sarees and jewelry and begin their day by offering any five fruits and coconut as the offering. And then they wind the white thread around a banyan tree seven times as a reminder of their husbands. And they hold fast for the rest of the day.
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