Bhubaneswar: One of the most auspicious and significant Hindu festivals, Sabitri Brata is being observed today across Odisha by the married women for the good health and well-being of their husbands.
The married women observe the prominent ‘brata’ by keeping fast and offering special worship to various Hindu God and Goddess. They especially offer puja to Banayan tree which is considered as the most pious and revered tree where Lord Brahma, Bishnu and Lord Maheswar live.
As per legends, married women worship the giant tree seeking long life of their husbands as the tree is long-lived
Sabitri Brata falls on Amavasya tithi in the Odia month of Jyestha. It is observed on June 6, this year.
Various temples and religious places witnessed a huge crowd of married women since early morning. They offered their worship with various fruits, milk, ghee and bangles, vermilion and a thread. After offering the bangles, thread and vermilion to the God and Goddess, they wear it as a symbol of piety.
Famous temples across Odisha witnessed a beeline of women since early morning. Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar, Dhabaleswar temple in Cuttack, Puri shree Jagannath temple and others were crowded with devotees. Goddess Biraja of Jajpur today gave darshan to the devotees in Sabitri appearance. A large number of devotees visited the historical shrine to catch a glimpse of the special appearance.
Legend behind Sabitri Brata:
As per Hindu scriptures, Sabitri, a married Hindu woman had once brought back the life of her husband from Yamraj (God of death) by her devotion and sanctity. Once Satyaban was working in the forest and Yamraj came to him to take his life. Savitri followed him and prayed to the God of death to give her back her husband’s life. Being pleased on her devotion, Yamraj asked her to seek three boons except for the life of her husband. Among three boons, one of them was a hundred sons. Yamraj blessed her and left the place with the life of her husband. Sabitri again followed him and Yamraj asked her why she was following again even after being blessed with the boons she sought. Sabitri said that how would she become the mother of a hundred son in the absence of her husband? Yamraj accepted defeat before her devotion and was forced to give back the life of her husband.
Rituals:
Women wake up in the early morning and offered puja at Banayan tree after taking holy bath. Later they visit temple wearing new sarees and jewellery and pray God and Goddess with special worship seeking the wellbeing of their husband. They observe fast throughout the day and break the brata after seeking blessings from senior members of their family.
