Things to know about the Savitri Brata
Things to know about the Savitri Brata: Savitri Brata or Savitri Amavasya is a fasting day observed by all Hindu Odia married women on the Amavasya day, the last day of the dark fortnight, in the month of Jyestha.
Savitri Brata or Sabitri Brata is unlike the Karwa Chauth, is the day most favorable for the married Hindu women whose husbands are alive. The women observe it as a vow with great dedication and pray for their husband’s health and to have a long life. The word reflects the origin and significance of the Vat-Savitri puja.
The fast is dedicated to Savitri and Satyavan. Savitri’s husband was destined to die within a year but was brought back to life by her penance. The God of death, Yama, is implored by Savitri when he is about to leave his body. Due to her sheer determination and devotion to her husband, she won him back to life. Soon Satyavan regained his lost kingdom.
The vrata was named after Savitri. Savitri was the beautiful daughter of king Aswapati of Madra Desa. She selected Satyavan as her life partner, a prince in exile who was living in the forest with his blind father Dyumatsen. She left the palace and lived with her husband and the in-laws in the forest.
As a devoted wife and daughter-in-law, she went to great lengths to take care of them. One day while cutting wood in the jungle, Satyavan’s head reeled and he fell down from a tree. Then Yamraj, the death God, appeared to take away Satyavan’s soul. Deeply hurt, Savitri pleaded to Yamraj not to be separated from her husband. If anything, he would take away the soul of her husband and she would also follow. Yamraj, moved by the devotion of Savitri, returned the life of her husband.
All Hindu Odia women celebrate this festival by worshiping Savitri as a Devi. In the early morning, women take purifying baths, wear new clothes and bangles, and apply vermilion to their foreheads. Various types of fruits and flowers are offered to the Goddess. Wet pulses, rice, mangoes, jackfruits, pineapples, palm fruits, kendu, bananas, and several other fruits are offered as Bhog or offerings and observe the festival with Savitri Barta Katha. After fasting for the whole day, fasting women simply take the Bhog. In the afternoon, when formalities of worship are over, they bow to their respective husbands and elderly people.
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