Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Hundreds of women on Saturday celebrated the festival of Vata Poornima with great religious fervour in across Goa
Many married women on the day observe ritualistic fast, wear new clothes and jewellery and perform puja. They also tie a ceremonial sacred thread around a banyan tree and listen to the great tale of Savitri and Satyavan.
Speaking to the media Prakash Gawas of Rashtroli Santoshi Mata Temple at New Vaddem said that for the last several years, women from different parts of Mormugao Taluka would arrive at the temple to celebrate Vat Poornima.
“A married woman marks her love for her husband by tying a ceremonial thread around a banyan tree. The celebration is based on the legend of Savitri and Satyavan, narrated in the epic Mahabharata. Vat Savitri Purnima Vrat is celebrated by married Hindu women on the Purnima Tithi (Full Moon Day) in Jyeshtha. Women observe a day-long fast, perform puja, and pay tributes to Devi Savitri, who tricked Yamraj (the God of death) into giving her husband a new lease on life, Satyawan. The Banyan Tree (Vat Vriksh) also plays a pivotal role in the festival.” Said Gawas
Sancoale ZP Anita Thorat speaking to the media, said that Santa Samaj Mormugao Taluka had organised a unique Vada Purnima festival.
“The women have arrived here for religious rituals and have been instrumental in saving the culture and taking it forward. The Vata Purnima was celebrated with a special song, and we are glad that ancient rituals are still performed and our culture is safeguarded. Even our PM Narendra Modi has stressed spiritualism and got the culture of India to the entire world,” said Thorat.
