Vat Savitri Amavasya Puja is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated by married women to ensure their husbands live long and prosperous lives. On this festival day, married women undertake the puja for families, and the rituals are done on the no-moon day (Amavasya) of the Jyeshtha month in the Hindu calendar. Vat Savitri is based on the myth of Savitri and Satyavan and represents the loyalty of a wife.
Married women worship the banyan tree (Vat Vriksha) on this day, tying threads around it, fasting, and praying for their husbands’ health and well-being. Vat Savitri is predominantly observed in North India, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, where married women will go out as a group and perform the puja under the banyan tree with offerings of fruit, flowers, and sacred threads to represent their husbands.
The Vat Savitri puja emphasizes the significance of marital bonds and connection and brings forth the age-old tradition of a woman’s faith and devotion within a marriage.
Significance & Legend Behind Vat Savitri Puja
The importance of Vat Savitri Puja is derived from the Mahabharata’s story of Savitri, who beat Yama, the god of death, to save her husband Satyavan. Satyavan was to die within one year after Savitri married him, but through her penances and devotion, Yama was defeatably forced into restoring his life.
The tree associated with the ritual is the Banyan tree (Vat Vriksha) that represents eternal life and strength that comes from a love like Savitri’s. On this day, married women fast (often called ‘Vat Savitri Vrat’), pray, and circumambulate the tree while tying holy threads around its trunk. So, the Vat Savitri deceives belief that a wife’s devotion could even be stronger than fate, and this all reminds me of a true, strong Hindu tradition.
Vat Savitri Puja Vidhi & Puja Samagri:
Vat Savitri Puja is observed over three days with several rituals:
Puja Samagri:
- A vase full of water
- Moli (raw yarn)
- Roli, sindoor, Akshat
- Sweets
- Flowers, incense sticks, dhoop
- Bamboo basket and a bamboo fan
- Soaked chickpeas
Vat Savitri Puja Vidhi – Day 1:
- Preparation: On the first day, women traditionally clean their homes and surroundings. They gather the necessary items for the puja, including sandalwood paste, a vase full of water, moli thread, sweets, soaked chickpeas, rice, incense sticks, flowers, and fruits.
- Drawing of Images: Using a paste made of sandalwood and rice, images of the Vat (banyan) tree, Savitri, Satyavan, and Yama are drawn on a wall or floor at home.
- Worship of Golden Engravings: Golden engravings or idols representing Savitri and Satyavan are placed in a tray of sand. They are worshipped with mantras, incense, and flowers.
Vat Savitri Puja Vidhi – Day 2:
- Fasting: Women observe a strict fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and water.
- Puja: In the morning, women perform a special puja dedicated to Savitri and Satyavan. They offer prayers, flowers, fruits, and light incense.
- Worship of the Vat Tree: Outdoors, women visit a banyan tree, which symbolizes the divine couple’s eternal love. They tie threads (molly) around the tree’s trunk and offer copper coins as a symbol of prosperity and longevity for their husbands.
Vat Savitri Puja Vidhi – Day 3:
- Continued Fasting: Women continue their fast from sunrise to sunset.
- Puja: Another puja is performed in the morning, with prayers and offerings made to Savitri and Satyavan for their blessings and protection.
- Completion of Rituals: The fasting concludes at sunset. Women break their fast by consuming a simple meal, often consisting of fruits and sweets.
- Greeting: Throughout the day, women greet each other with blessings, saying ‘जन्म सावित्री हो’ (‘Become a Savitri’), symbolizing their wishes for their husbands’ long and prosperous lives.
These rituals are observed with devotion and sincerity, symbolizing the timeless love and dedication portrayed by Savitri towards her husband Satyavan in Hindu mythology.
Rituals & Customs of Vat Savitri Amavasya
The Vat Savitri Amavasya Puja consists of various customary acts and rituals imbued with devotion and reverence. Women arise in the pre-dawn’s stillness, perform a ceremonial cleansing, and adorn new clothing, bangles, and/or sindoor as symbols of their marital state. They assemble beneath a Banyan tree (Vat Vriksha) carrying a kalash (sacred pot), flowers, fruits, and grains or rice.
They invoke their prayers to Goddess Savitri, tie red or yellow threads around the trunk of the tree while reciting mantras that beseech the long life of their husband. Some women may also complete a nirjala vrat (fasting from food and water) and continue to do so until the completion of the puja.
After the puja is completed, the women distribute the prasad (sweets and fruit) to their family members. The traditions associated with Vat Savitri embody cultural traditions of love, sacrifice, and spiritual vitality.
Best Places to Celebrate Vat Savitri Amavasya
While Vat Savitri Puja takes place throughout various regions of India, in several areas of the nation, it is performed on a separate plane. For example, along the riverbank, under a large baniyan tree, is where the women solely perform this pooja in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, etc. will perform the pujas at their temples but will take a bit more time before sitting down for a meal again.
There is something special about Vat Vriksha in Prayagraj (Allahabad), in that one’s saadhak importance is tied to it; as the Karadaiyan Nombu is southern Indian pooja celebrated by women, of rice cake, either at home or between sacred woods… at the time of Vas-Savitir, of rich culture involving devotion to women, gathering.
Vat Savitri (Vat Purnima) Tithi & Muhurat (Date & Time)
- Vata Savitri Amavasya on Monday, May 26, 2025
- Vat Savitri Purnima Vrat on Tuesday, June 10, 2025
- Amavasya Tithi Begins – 12:11 PM on May 26, 2025
- Amavasya Tithi Ends – 08:31 AM on May 27, 2025
If you are confused about which dates to follow, we recommend you follow the Purnimanta Calendar
Modern-Day Celebrations & Cultural Impact
In present times, Vat Savitri Amavasya Puja has evolved with a mix of old and new aspects. Now, women in urban areas participate either by visiting public parks with Banyan trees or by creating their own small shrines in their homes. Social media has raised awareness by allowing women to post photos of their puja and rituals on various social media platforms.
While women continue their jis shift approaches to puja while juggling multiple commitments to family and career, the structure of Islamic Vat Savitri Vrat remains the same and is indicative of a phenomenological faith of American women in the ritual practice of puja.
Women have also created a community of friends and family who engage in group Vrat and puja practices, expanding the notions of sisterhood and community. The Vat Savitri festival maintains traditional practices as well as supports women in continuing their spiritual heritage with pride.
Vat Savitri Mantra:
“ହେ ସଦ୍ଗତି ନାରୀ, ମୋତେ ବିଧବା ନ ହେବାର ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ ଦିଅ।
ପୁଅ ଏବଂ ନାତିମାନଙ୍କୁ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବା ଏବଂ ଖୁସି ପାଇଁ ତୁମକୁ ପ୍ରଣାମ।
ଯେପରି ତୁମେ ଡାଳ ଏବଂ ଡାଳ ସହିତ ଭୂମିରେ ବଢିଛ।
ଏବଂ ତୁମେ ମୋତେ ସବୁବେଳେ ପୁଅ ଏବଂ ନାତିମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ କର।”
“Avaidhyam cha saubhagyam dehi tvam mam suvrate
Putraan pautranshchya saukhyam cha grihaanaarghya namostute
Yatha shakha-prashaakhaabhivridhhosi tvam mahitale,
Tatha putraishchya pautreshchya sampannam kuru ma sada.”
Note: If you want to have Vat Savitri Purnima Puja and Vat Savitri Vrat Katha performed for you by our highly experienced veteran “Karmkandi Pundits”, you can visit here for details for booking.
