Vat Savitri ..Part 2

Finally, I am posting Part 2 of the Vat Savitri Post that I had promised.
Better late than never..
For the second part of the Vat Savitri post, I wanted to elucidate the ritual followed in observing this fest.

Okay, we all know it's a fast observed by married women for the long lives of their husband.

As far as following rituals and traditions are concerned, I am a big copy cat of my mommy.
I want to do anything and everything that she does..
I am just so fascinated and awe struck by her persona that I can't help it.

One of the other reasons why I like documenting these traditions on So-Saree, is for my own selfish motive.
Come festivals or auspcious days/events, I call up my mommy and chk out with her, what I am supposed to do for that particular fest, and though she will very obediently and diligently tells me the rituals and procedure, she will always mention that I should start remembering this stuff, instead of calling her every now and then.
But no matter how hard I try, I can never remember the little things that go in each festival. And so I thought, if I write about it on So-Saree, at least I will have a reference point for the future.
Am I smart or what..!!

So, this is what is done for the Vat Savitri Puja.
Aai says women in North India do this fast for three days, just like Savitri did..
But in Maharashtra, it is done only for a day, on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Jyestha.
This Vrat is therefore also called as the Vat Poornima Vrat.(Poornima meaning Full moon)

Women wake up early in the morning, finish  their morning chores, and dress in their traditional fineries aka Saree. At least on this day, you will spot most women wearing their Mangal Sutra, Nath aka nose ring, Jodvi aka toe ring, Sindoor i.e. vermilon filled in their hair partition and bindis on their foreheads. This is just the dressing up part.
After that they finish their daily morning payers, seek blessings from elders and husband, by touching their feet. And then they visit the nearest Banyan tree or Vat Vriksh in their vicinity for the puja.

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The Banyan Tree is the major requisite for this puja. Women offer Haldi Kum Kum to the Banyan tree, light a Diya, make an offering of 5/7 fruits on the leaf of a Banyan tree referred to as the Vaan, and pray for the long lives of their husband.
Now the Pujari or Priest, present there, will recite the story of Satyawan and Savitri in short. The women on fast then sew black beads in a white string and wear it as a necklace symbolizing the thread of Eternal Saubhagya.
Saubhagya literally means Good Fortune, but within the Indian context it means to die a married women. (Yes, ancient Indian women believed or more often were brainwashed to believe that being a widow was the biggest curse for any women, and hence they considered dieing a married women aka Saubhagyawati as the biggest blessing.)
 Then the Priest will tie one end of a white thread/string to the Banyan tree and the other end will be  given to the women who are there to perform the puja. Then the women are supposed to go around the Banyan tree and wrap it with the thread, while they complete their rounds/pradakshina. Once they complete 7 rounds, the major part of the puja is done. Some believe that by tieing 7 rounds of that thread around the Banyan tree, you reserve the right to retain your husband for your next seven lives. (Huh..can you believe that..?? A little too much..but you know it's INDIAN when there's loads of Drama..!)

After that, women offer the Vaan to other ladies and the puja is almost complete.

I say that the puja is almost complete, because the final and most important part of every Indian festival still needs to be completed. And that is accepting gifts. Here it is from your husband..the person for whom you are fasting. {Smart, isn't it? ;)}

On returning home from the Puja, the lady offers the Vaan to her husband and the husband will give her a gift as a token of his appreciation. NOW..the Puja is complete. ;)

But the fast still remains. The fasting lady will only break her fast on the next day.

But the one thing I like about Hindu traditions is their flexibility. Of course you are fasting, but you are allowed to eat fruits and milk. Now that's not bad..I say.

And if you have read this entire post..pat your backs.
I am so proud of you all.;)

The third and the final part (YES..there's one more to go) of the Vat Savitri Puja will be up soon. And I promise it will be not be a text heavy post.

Till then,

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