Vat Purnima 2025: Significance, Rituals, and the Sacred Vat Vriksha Puja

Vat Savitri Vrat is a special festival for married women. This fast is observed for the long life and happiness, and prosperity of the husband. On this day, women worship the Vat (Banyan) tree and listen to the story of Savitri, who snatched the life of her husband Satyavan from Yamraj.

When is Vat Savitri Vrat 2025?

This year, Vat Savitri Vrat will be observed on the Amavasya Tithi of Jyeshtha month, i.e. Monday, 26th May. On the day of Vat Savitri Vrat, married women fast by staying hungry and thirsty. Also, they worship the Vat tree. It is also known as Shani Jayanti. Also, observing this fast also reduces the negative effects of Saturn. Let us tell you that on 26th May, Amavasya Tithi will start at 12:12 in the afternoon and Amavasya Tithi will end at 8:32 in the morning on the 27th. According to classical law, Vat Savitri Vrat is observed when Amavasya Tithi is in the afternoon. Therefore, this fast will be observed on 26th May.

Auspicious Muhurta:

Brahma muhurta: 4:03 am to 4:44 am

Abhijit muhurta: 11:51 am to 12:46 pm 

Vijay muhurta: 2:36 pm to 3:31 pm

Why is Vat Savitri fast observed?

Married women observe the Vat Savitri fast for the long life of their husbands. They also fast on this day and pray for their husbands' long life. Along with this, beliefs also say that observing this fast brings good fortune to the family. It also strengthens marital relations.

Vat Purnima Vrat Katha:

Savitri, the devoted wife of Satyavan, was foretold that her husband would die within a year of their marriage. On the destined day, when Satyavan died under a banyan tree, Lord Yama (God of Death) came to claim his soul. Savitri followed Yama and engaged in a conversation, impressing him with her wisdom, devotion, and dharma. Pleased, Yama granted her a boon (excluding Satyavan’s life), and she cleverly asked for a hundred sons from Satyavan. This forced Yama to restore Satyavan’s life, thus highlighting the power of a woman’s love, patience, and intellect.

Puja Vidhi Vat Savitri Vrat 2025:

• Get up early in the morning, take a bath and clean the puja room.
• The banyan tree has special significance in this fast.
• Clean the area under the banyan tree and make a pavilion.
• Clean the area under the Vat tree and prepare the puja place.
• Worship Savitri and Satyavan, and offer water to the Vat tree.
• Tie the Vat tree with a red thread and circumambulate it 7 times.
• Recite or listen to the Vrat Katha and finally perform the Aarti.
• Donate to the poor and Brahmins and take blessings from them.
• End the fast the next day after sunrise.

Religious significance of Banyan tree

The Banyan tree is not just a tree, but a living symbol in Hindu faith and tradition. It is called Akshay Vatvriksha. According to religious beliefs, the Banyan is considered to be the abode of the Trimurti. Brahma resides in its roots, Vishnu in the trunk and Shiva in the branches. Its hanging dreadlocks are considered to be the form of Mother Savitri, who is the goddess of sacrifice, penance and desire for children. It is said that this Banyan tree originated from Manibhadra, the king of Yakshas, ​​and since then it has become the carrier of divinity. Women especially worship this tree on the day of Vat Savitri Vrat, wishing for the longevity of their husbands and the happiness of children. The Banyan tree, with its huge form and shade, gives a shade that gives peace not only to the body but also to the soul.

Why is the Banyan tree worshipped during Vat Savitri Vrat?

The Banyan tree is worshipped during Vat Savitri Vrat. According to religious beliefs, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh are present in the Banyan tree. It is believed that Brahma resides in the roots of the tree, Lord Vishnu resides in the trunk, and Lord Shiva resides in the branches. It is said that worshipping under the Banyan tree during Vat Savitri Vrat fulfills all wishes. According to mythological beliefs, just as Savitri brought back her husband Satyavan from Yamraj with her dedication, similarly, married women who observe this auspicious fast are blessed with a happy married life.

Worshipping the Vat Tree:

• Go to a sacred banyan (Vat) tree, ideally before noon.
• Clean the area and sprinkle Gangajal.
• Decorate the tree with haldi-kumkum, sindoor, flowers, and sandalwood paste.
• Tie a cotton or red sacred thread (kalava) around the tree 7 or 21 times, while chanting prayers and circling the tree (pradakshina).

Dos on Vat Purnima:

• Fast with devotion and chant mantras like:

 “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya”

  “Om Yamaaya Namah”

• Wear traditional attire and complete solah shringar (16 adornments of a married woman).
• Feed cows or donate food to Brahmins or needy people.
• Offer yellow or red clothes to the temple or poor married women.
• Read Vat Savitri Vrat Katha sincerely.
• Worship your husband as Narayan (Vishnu) and seek his blessings.

Don’ts on Vat Purnima:

• Avoid consumption of grains, salt, onion, garlic, or non-veg food during the vrat.
• Do not cut hair or nails.
• Avoid using harsh words, arguments, or indulging in negative thoughts.
• Refrain from sleeping during the day if observing a strict fast.
• Do not dishonour or step over the roots of the banyan tree.
• Avoid skipping rituals or breaking the thread ritual abruptly.

Remedies on Vat Purnima 2025:

• For Marital Harmony & Husband’s Health: Offer a sindoor-daan to the banyan tree and apply the same on your forehead. Chant Savitri mantra 108 times under the Vat tree:

“Om Savitri Pativrataaye Namah”

• For Fertility & Child Blessings: Offer soaked black gram (kala chana) under the Vat tree and tie a red thread with 3 knots. Pray to Maa Savitri to bless your womb with health and life.
• For Delayed Marriage: Unmarried girls can circumambulate the Vat tree 11 times, praying for an ideal life partner like Satyavan.
• For Longevity of Life Partner: Light a ghee diya under the Vat tree in the evening and chant the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.

Benefits of Vat Purnima Vrat:

1. Promotes the longevity and good health of the husband.
2. Increases mutual love, respect, and harmony in married life.
3. Enhances fertility and family happiness.
4. Destroys sins and karmic debts, especially from married life.
5. Brings spiritual merit equal to yagnas, river pilgrimages, and temple darshans.
6. Fulfils desires related to household peace, progeny, and relationship bonding.

Conclusion:

Vat Purnima 2025 is more than a festival—it's a vow of eternal love, a spiritual remedy for relationship issues, and a sacred connection to the divine feminine energy embodied by Savitri. When observed with faith, it brings abundance, protection, and balance into the lives of married women and their families. Just as the Vat tree stands strong with deep roots and spreading branches, may your marriage grow resilient and flourish through all seasons of life.