Savitri Pooja, also known as Savitri Vrat or Savitri Brata, is a significant fasting day observed by married Hindu women across India. It is dedicated to Savitri, the legendary wife of Satyavan who convinced Lord Yama, the god of death, to spare her husband’s life with her devotion and determination.

The festival usually falls on the Amavasya (new moon day) in the month of Jyeshtha, according to the Hindu lunar calendar, which typically corresponds to late May or early June in the Gregorian calendar.

On this day, women wake up early, bathe, wear new clothes, and start their fast. The fasting women worship Savitri and Satyavan and narrate the story of Savitri’s unparalleled loyalty and devotion towards her husband, known as the Savitri-Satyavan Katha. The fast is broken only after offering prayers to the Banyan tree, which has a special significance in the Savitri-Satyavan story, as this is the tree under which Savitri pleaded with Lord Yama for her husband’s life.

The rituals may vary regionally, but the core practice remains the same. The day is primarily dedicated to praying for the well-being, prosperity, and longevity of their husbands, symbolizing the power of a wife’s love and devotion. In regions like Odisha, the festival, known as Savitri Brata, holds great importance and is observed with fervor by married women.

Savitri Pooja is an embodiment of marital fidelity, commitment, and the power of a woman’s love and devotion.