Married women performing Vat Savitri Puja in Patna on May 16, 2026. Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Married women across the city and nearby areas observed the sacred Vat Savitri Vrat on Saturday, praying for the long life and well-being of their husbands. The festival, held on the Amavasya (new moon) day of the Jyeshtha month, began early in the morning on May 16.
According to tradition, women keep a fast on this day and perform rituals dedicated to the banyan tree (Vat Vriksha). The vrat is linked to the legendary tale of Savitri, who is believed to have restored her husband Satyavan’s life through her devotion and wisdom.
From early morning, women dressed in traditional attire and adorned with ‘solah shringar’ gathered under banyan trees across Patna and the Paliganj subdivision. Major puja sites such as Ram Janaki Thakurwadi Temple, Manichak Dham, Kailuchak and Sangat Par saw large gatherings. At the Ram Janaki Thakurwadi Temple, long queues of women were seen from as early as 5 am.
Thousands of women also arrived at Manichak Dham, while areas like Kailuchak and Sangat Par witnessed scenes resembling a fair. Devotees circled the banyan tree, tied sacred threads around it, and offered fruits, flowers, vermilion and rice. They also listened to the story of Savitri and Satyavan and prayed for lifelong marital happiness.
It is widely believed that observing the Vat Savitri Vrat ensures a husband’s long life and brings peace and harmony to married life. Many women observed a strict waterless fast and performed rituals according to tradition. After the prayers they sought blessings from elders and distributed prasad.
According to Acharya Ramashankar Dubey, the most auspicious time for the puja was between 7:12 am and 8:24 am, while the Amavasya tithi began at 5:11 am and continued until 1:30 am.
He advised that women should take an early bath, wear red or yellow clothes, and prepare a puja thali with necessary items. Offerings should be made under a banyan tree, including fruits, sweets and water. Offering a hand fan on this day is considered especially significant. Women should also circumambulate the tree with a red or yellow thread, listen to the Savitri-Satyavan story, and donate to Brahmins.
The Vat Savitri Vrat symbolises the deep devotion of Goddess Savitri towards her husband Satyavan. According to mythology, when Yama, the god of death, took Satyavan’s soul, Savitri’s intelligence and determination compelled him to return her husband’s life. It is believed that she received this boon under a banyan tree, which is why the tree holds special religious importance on this day.
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