MUMBAI: In a time when hundreds of age-old ethnic trees are being cut for the Metro rail and other infrastructure projects,
Mumbaikars
awoke to the touching sight of Maharashtrian women worshipping banyan trees Thursday.
The full moon day marked the festival of Vat Purnima when married women fast and pray for the long life and prosperity of their husbands. Similar pujas were conducted at roadside banyan trees at Amboli in Andheri, Khar Danda and Tulsiwadi Tardeo. Gujarati and north Indian housewives also joined the ritual.
The banyan (vatvriksh) embodies the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and is worshipped by tying strong cotton thread around the gnarled trunk. Women apply vermilion to the tree, light incense sticks, offer flowers, fruits and sweets and perform aarti.
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat all celebrate the legend of
Savitri and
Satyavan
this day. Northern states observe Vat Savitri on
Jyeshth Amavasya
, 15 days before Vat Purnima.
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