Bhubaneswar: Odisha is remarkable for its tradition of oshas, bratas, and melas. The ceremony and sanctity of these traditional religious festivities are more or less lively and some of them are gradually perishing too.
Of nearly 30 bratas, Savitri Brata is a fasting day observed by all Hindu Odia married women on the Amavasya, the last day of the dark fortnight, in the Hindu calendar month of Jyestha. This day is most favourable for the married Hindu women whose husbands are alive. They observe it as a vow with great dedication and pray for their husband to have a long life. Married women in Odisha fast during the day and listen to the story of Savitri and Satyaban. The word Savitri Amavasya reflects the origin and significance of the Vat-Savitri puja. The fast is dedicated to Savitri and Satyaban; her husband who was destined to die within one year but was brought back to life by her penance.
The God of death, Yama, is implored by Savitri when he is about to leave his body. Due to her sheer determination and devotion to her husband, she won him back to life. Soon Satyaban regained his lost kingdom.
The legend behind the festival: The brata was named after Savitri. She was the beautiful daughter of King Aswapati of Madra Desa. She selected Satyaban as her life partner, a prince in exile who was living in the forest with his blind father Dyumatsen. She left the palace and lived with her husband and the in-laws in the forest. As a devoted wife and daughter-in-law, she went to great lengths to take care of them. One day while cutting wood in the forest, Satyaban’s head reeled and he fell down from a tree. Savitri accompanied him on that day. Then Yamraj, the death God, appeared to take away his soul.
Deeply hurt, Savitri pleaded to Yamraj not to be separated from her husband. If he would take away the soul of her husband; she would also follow. Yamraj, moved by the devotion of Savitri, returned to the life of her husband.
Observation of Savitri Brata: Women wake up early in the morning on Savitri Brata day and after taking a bath, wear new clothes and ornaments including bangles. All married women use red vermillion on the forehead, which is elongated to touch the line parting the hair. Savitri is symbolically represented by the grinding stone, locally known as Sila Pua. The grinding stone is thoroughly cleaned and worshipped. Bhoga or offering to Savitri consists of rice, wet pulses, and locally available fruits like mango, jackfruit, banana, palm, date palm, etc. The fasting begins at sunrise and ends after sunset with the evening prayers. The fast is broken by consuming the offering made to Savitri. Women also make it a point to read or listen to the Savitri Brata Katha mentioned in the Mahabharata.
Savitri Brata Katha/Story: One day King Yudhisthira, the elder son of Pandu, asked Sri Krishna: Oh! Krishna, Oh Madhava! Kindly tell me about the brata which if performed by women brings immense happiness and good fortune to them and also saves them from widowhood. Kindly enlighten me! Upon hearing this from Yudhisthira, Sri Krishna replied: Your majesty! I will now narrate before you; please listen carefully. Women observe various kinds of bratas. Out of these Savitri Brata is the foremost. One who performs this brata is blessed with children and wealth and well being of their respective husbands. Her life is filled with evergreen happiness.
