Vat Purnima
vat purnima vaṭapūrṇimā also called vat savitri vrat hindu celebration observed married woman north india western indian state maharashtra goa gujarat purnima full moon three day month jyeshtha hindu calendar fall may–june gregorian calendar married woman mark love husband tying ceremonial thread around banyan tree celebration based legend savitri satyavan narrated epic mahabharata legend date back story age mahabharata childless king asvapati consort malavi wish son finally god savitr appears tell soon daughter king overjoyed prospect child born named savitri honor god beautiful pure intimidates men village man ask hand marriage father tell find husband set pilgrimage purpose find satyavan son blind king named dyumatsena life exile forestdweller savitri return find father speaking sage narada tell made bad choice although perfect every way satyavan destined die one year day savitri insists going ahead marries satyavan three day foreseen death satyavan savitri take vow fasting vigil fatherinlaw tell taken harsh regimen reply taken oath perform regimen dyumatsena offer support morning satyavan’s predicted death splitting wood suddenly becomes weak lay head savitri’s lap dy savitri place body shade vat banyan tree yama god death come claim satyavans soul yama take satyavans soul savitri follows stating duty wife follow husband hearing yama grant wish exception asking husband life first asks eyesight restoration kingdom fatherinlaw hundred child father hundred child satyavan last wish creates dilemma yama would indirectly grant life satyavan however impressed savitris dedication purity offer one chance choose boon time omitting except life satyavan savitri instantly asks satyavan return life yama grant life satyavan blesses savitris life eternal happiness satyavan awakens though deep sleep return parent along wife meanwhile home dyumatsena regains eyesight savitri satyavan return since satyavan still know happened savitri relay story parentsinlaw husband gathered ascetic praise dyumatsena’s minister arrive news death usurper joyfully king entourage return kingdom though tree play significant role story worshiped memory love legend vat purnima english mean full moon related banyan tree hindu festival celebrated strictly northern western indian state uttarakhand maharashtra goa gujarat period festival observed three day usually th th th day month jestha may–june woman observe fast tie thread around banyan tree pray wellbeing husband occasion vat purnima woman keep fast three day husband savitri three day picture vat banyan tree savitri satyavan yama drawn paste sandalwood rice floor wall home golden engraving couple placed tray sand worshiped mantra chanting vat leaf outdoors banyan tree worshiped thread wound around trunk tree copper coin offered strict adherence fast tradition believed ensure husband long prosperous life fast woman greet जन्म सावित्री हो english become savitri believed next seven birth husband live well b gupte provides pauranic excerpt suggest mythology behind festival symbolic natural phenomenon note representation annual marriage earth nature represented satyavan savitri like way earth dy every year rejuvenated power nature point vat tree likely chosen due mythological aspect connected tree known indian present day festival celebrated following way woman dress fine saree jewelry day begin offering five fruit coconut woman wind white thread around banyan tree seven time reminder husband fast whole day underhill mm hindu religious year oxford university pressaniket kadam archived original august call number