By On the auspicious occasion of Amavashya of Jestha, Nepalese Maithil married women celebrate Vat Savitri fasting. This festival is also celebrated in many parts of India. Amavashya is the no moon or new moon day. This festival marks a long fasting which is performed praying for the longer life of the husband.
Married women of all age groups gather together under the Banyan tree also known as ‘Vat Brikshya’ of ‘Barr ko Rukh’ to pray for the long life of their husband. Women intend on fasting from the early morning until the very next day. They wear different bridal clothes and jewelry to symbolize ‘Suhag’ which means being married. This is one of the biggest fasting for Maithil women and they have a very high place for this occasion.
People go to the temples having the Banyan tree planted or any site which has Barr tree. There they take Moli thread or any red/yellow thread with them and go around the Banyan tree tying the thread for seven times. This is done not just for the long life of the husband but also to wish that they could get the same husband for seven different lives that a human gets according to Hindu Mythology.
The celebration of VatSavitri Puja as a culture started from a very famous myth long while back. After completion of the VatSavitri Puja women gather around the Banyan tree to hear this famous myth. The VatSavitri Book according to the Puran reads that once upon a time there was a king of Madra Kingdom; Asvapati, who was childless for so many years. He was determined to have a child due to which he started praying to Sun God Savitr.
Pleased by the devotion and determination of the King, the Sun god blessed the King with a baby girl who was known as Savitri. Savitri grew up to be a very pious, virtuous and devoted girl. Though she contained such great traits, no man wanted to marry her because she was very ascetic in nature. Being a very passionate person Savitri, took upon herself to find a lover and she met Satyawan, the son of a blind king; Dyumatsena.
She fell in love with Satyawan who was a displaced prince. She went to Narad Muni to have a marriage ceremony but her father along with Narad Muni started convincing Savitri to marry someone else because Satyawan had a really colleges in balkumari short lifespan. Savitri was already head over heels for Satyawan so she insisted on marrying him going against all the odds. Savitri was known to be a very devoted wife to her husband but unfortunately, Satyawan was already cursed due to which the time for his death came at a very young age.
As Satyawan’s time of death neared, Savitri sat Infront of a Banyan tree with her husband’s head at her lap and when Yama’s messenger came to take him, she did not let anyone touch her dead husband. Later Yama had to come himself and then he took Satyawan with him. Shattered by such unfortunate reality, Savitri was hell-bound to bring her husband back to life.
She followed them all the way to the gates of death where Lord Yama resides. When Yama tried to take Satyawan with him, Savitri insisted that she will not leave her husband alone and Yama has to take both of them. Disturbed by the fact that there was an individual in all blood and flesh in the gates of death, Yama asked Savitri to return back home and give up the uncontrollable love for her husband.
Savitri strongly denied on returning alone and gave Yama two options. Either Yama has to take her to the afterlife or he will have to make Satyawan alive so that she can return back to the Earth with him. Yama is considered to be a very virtuous lord, so he started asked many morale and witty questions to Savitri who confidently replied all of his questions with mindfulness. Satisfied with the intelligence, morality and devotion of Savitri, Yama gave Satyawan his life back and they were sent back to earth where they spent a long and a happy married life.
All of these incidents had happened under a Banyan tree, which is why it is considered the precedent in the story and a witness that a devoted wife can help a husband to live a long and healthy life. This is the reason why each year married women gather around the Banyan tree and worship Vat Savitri Puja wishing a long life of the husband.
It is believed that Banyan tree can grant the wish of happy conjugal life for married couple. Banyan tree is used as a witness to prove that married individuals are devoted to their husband. In city areas, banyan tree might not be in everyone’s access which is why some women create the symbolism of the Banyan tree by using turmeric or sandalwood and worshipping with the same zeal. Chana and moong sprout is considered to be the best prasad of Vat Savitri Puja and consuming it ensures longevity and healthiness of life. Women apply the holy Sindoor from the stem of their nose to all the way back of their head because it is believed that longer your Sindoor is, longer will be the husband’s life.
Vat Savitri Puja day is very pious and spiritual day for Maithil women. This day makes women believe that if they have a strong will, then they can even bring their dead husband back to life. This festival is a symbolism of love and marital bliss between husband and wife.
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