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Vat Purnima is celebrated by the Hindus. Vat Purnima is to be celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Jyeshta according to the Hindu calendar. Vat Purnima is also known as Vat Savitri.
Significance
Vat Purnima is a festival celebrated by the married women in Maharashtra and is some parts of Karnataka state. This is a very famous Hindus religious festival. This festival is celebrated in the month of Jyeshta mas on the full moon day. On this auspicious day married women observe fast and prayer for their husband's long life. This festival is related to the legend story of Savitri and her husband Satyavan. It is said that Satyavan would have not been lived long if Savitri was not there. One fine day Satyavan was resting on lap of Savitri waiting for his death.
They both were under a banyan tree, when Satyavan's death day arrived. The messenger of Yama known as the god of death had come to take him. But his wife Savitri refused to give his husband. Yama was sending messengers after messenger, they tried hard to take Satyavan away but all was waste. Listing to Savitri's prayers Yama himself appeared on the earth and forced her to give Satyavan. But Savitri was still adamant, looking at this Yama offered her a boon, she asked good health for her in-laws Yama granted her the boon.
Savitri kept following Yama as he was taking her husband's body, he again offered her another boon, she asked for well being of her own parents, he granted her that too. She still continued to follow him finally he offered her one more boon now she asked for a son and Yama granted her that too, she told without my husband how could I get a son. Here Yama was trapped and however he had to leave Satyavan to her wife.
Hence married woman pray and tie thread to the banyan tree, asking for their husband's wealth and long life. They also observe fast for the whole night and that continues till the next morning.
Celebration of Vat Purnima
On this very auspicious day married woman do fast. Main aim behind the rituals that are practiced for Vat Purnima is that women pray for well being of their beloved husband. Women worship banyan tree and this is because at the time when death was approaching Satyavan they found banyan tree for shelter. Women makes a promise that they shall worship Savitri for providing long life for their husband, son and protecting them. Women get dressed well and apply mehendi on their hands. They visit banyan tree they do Puja and tie thread to the banyan tree and they pray that they should get the same husband for every birth.
Traditional food
Vat Purnima is very auspicious festival and there are variety of dishes prepared on this day as this food is to be distributed to the banyan tree and also to the married women. Dishes prepared are aamras puri, kheer puri, puri bhaji, pulav, moong dal, puran poli and jeera rice.
This festival is celebrated by the majority of Indian women for husband's long life and for their prosperity. They also pray for the families well being.
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