|
|
| WAT
POURNIMA |
|
| Celebration :
Prayers are offered to the
Banyan Tree |
|
| Celebrated by
:
Married Women |
|
| In the month
of :
May - June |
|
|
|
| Wat Pournima is a women's festival celebrated
in the month of Jesht (May-June). On this day married women observe a fast and
tie threads around a banyan tree and pray for the same husband in every birth. |
|
The Legend
The legend behind the banyan
tree is the story of Satyavan and Savitri. The story goes that Satyavan and
Savitri were married. It had been foretold that Satyavan would die early. One
day, Satyavan, after spending the morning cutting firewood, felt tired and lay
his head down on Savitri's lap under a banyan tree. Savitri knew that the
predicted end was near and waited fearfully for one of the messengers of Yama,
the god of death. When the messenger came, Savitri refused to give up her
husband and sent him packing. Messenger after messenger tried to take Satyavan
away, but in vain. |
|
| Finally, Yama himself appeared before her.
Since she was still adamant, he offered her a boon. She asked for the well
being of her in-laws. He granted it to her. She then followed him as he took
Satyavan's body away. He offered her another boon. She now asked for the well
being of her parents. This boon, too, was granted. But she was relentless, and
continued to follow him. As they approached Yama's abode, he offered her a
final boon. She asked for a son. He granted it. She then asked him how it would
be possible for her to beget sons without her husband. Yama was trapped and had
to return her husband.
|
|
| On the strength of this legend, married women
pray to the banyan tree for the long life of their husbands and for children
Their fast is observed right through the night till the next morning. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
