Vat Savitri Fast 2024 । Vat Savitri Puja

Vat Savitri fast is observed on Amavasya of Krishna Paksha in Jyeshta month. In the year 2024, this fast will be observed on 6th june, This fast is observed by women to attain happy married life and pleasure of children by women. There is a ritual of worshipping the Vat tree and idols of Savitri and Satyavan on this day due to which it is famous as Vat Savitri. In Indian culture, this fast has been considered as the symbol of ideal womanhood. Ancient scriptures such as Skanda Purana, Bhavishya Uttar Purana etc have detailed description about the rituals of fasting.

Savitri and Vat has been given a special significance in Indian culture and this fast depicts the fidelity of the a woman towards her husband and growth in fortune. It is believed that Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha resides in the Vat tree and the person who performs puja under this tree gets all his wishes fulfilled.

Lord Yamraj is also worshipped on this day along with Satyavan- Savitri. Married women observe the fast for the long life of her husband as Savitri brought back her husband from lord Yamaraja by performing this fast only. The person observing the fast should make idols of Savitri, Satyavan and Yamraj sitting on buffalo using gold or mud. Puja should be done with incense sticks, sandalwood, fruits, roli, saffron etc and the devotee should listen to Savitri-Satyavan story.

Vat Savitri Fast Story

Savitri has attained an honor of most respectable character of ancient times. She was born under some extraordinary circumstances. She was born to King Ashwapati after performing hard penance and austerities. King of Bhadra, Ashwapati did not have any child. He performed hard penance for many years to please the goddess. As a result, goddess Savitri got blessed with his penance and granted him the boon of a girl child. He named her daughter after the name of goddess Savitri.

Savitri was a virtuous woman filled with all good possible qualities. King Ashwapati was very upset as he was not able to find a perfect match for his daughter. One day he asked his daughter to look for a match for herself. Savitri set out on a pilgrimage for this purpose and met a blind king named Dyumatsena, living in exile as a forest-dweller. She found his son, Satyavan perfect to be her husband.

When Rishiraj Narada came to know about this, he approached Ashwapati and said “Your daughter did a big mistake in choosing her husband. Satyavan is talented and virtuous but, he has an ephemeral life and will die after one year of the marriage”. Hearing this, king Ashwapati’s face turned pale. ‘Vratha Na Hohi Dev Rishi Bani’ thinking this, king tried convincing his daughter to marry some other guy.

Savitri said to her father that an arya kanya selects her husband only once, and Kanyadaan also happens only once. She was stuck on her decision of marrying Satyavan no matter what happens after that. Listening to it, King Ashwapati agreed to their marriage. Ultimately, Satyavana and Satyavati gor ties into sacred bond of marriage. Reaching the house of her in-laws, Savitri got busy serving her parents-in-laws.

Time passed by and  the words of Narad were making Savitri impatient, day by day. When she came to known that the date of her husband’s death is coming closer, she started fasting from 3 days before. She did the Pitro Pujan on the day specified by Narad. Like every normal day , Satyavan went for cutting woods into the forest. Savitri took permission from her in-laws and went along with him on that day.

Satyavan climbed up a tree to cut its branches. Suddenly he started having unbearable pain in his head. He got disturbed and came down from the tree. Savitri understood the future and made her husband rest on her lap. She saw, extremely powerful Mahishasur Yamraj coming from the south direction. Savitri followed Lord Yamraja when he was leaving after taking the life of Satyavan. Initially, lord Yamraja explained her the Devi-Vidhan. But, seeing her loyalty, he told Savitri to ask for her wish.

She said “My parents-in-laws are blind and forester. Provide them their eyesight.” Yamraj granted her the boon and asked her to return back. She refused and said that she had no problem in walking after her husband, as this was her duty. Hearing this, Yamraj again said her to ask for another wish. She said, “ she wants her father-in-law to win back the kingdom he had lost in the war “. He again granted her the boon and asked her to go back. But she again followed him.

Then he asked her to wish for anything she wants, other than the life of Satyavana and return back to her home. This time Savitri asked to get blessed with 100 sons of Satyavana. Yamraj granted her this wish also and kept on walking. Savitri still followed him that made Yamraj furious.

Savitri told Yamraj that although he had granted her the boon of having 100 sons from Satyavana but this would not be possible without Satyavana.

Seeing the fidelity of Savitri towards her husband, he released the soul of Satyavana. Savitri returned to the tree under which Satyavan had died. He stood up from his unconscious state and both of them returned back to their kingdom happily. Reaching there they saw that their parents had regained their eyesight. Eventually, Savitri- Satyavana lived a happy life in their kingdom and enjoyed all the pleasures of life together.

A woman who hears to this story and observes the Vat Savitri fast  is blessed with a happy married life and long life for her husband.