Married women observer Vat Savitri Vrat for well-being and long life of their husbands. This word reflects the whole origin and significance of the Vat-Savitri puja.

Legends:

The festival is dedicated to the legendary married woman Savitri who succeeded to get back her died husband, Satyawaan by her severe penance. Savitri was the beautiful daughter of king Aswapati of Madra Desa. She selected Satyawaan as her life's partner, a prince in exile who was living in the forest with his blind father Dyumatsen. She left the palace a lived with her husband and the in-laws in the forest. As a devoted wife and daughter in-law she took all pains to take care of them.

One day while cutting wood in the jungle Satyawaan head reeled and he fell down from the tree and then expired on the lap of his beloved wife, Savitri. Then appeared Yamraj, the death God to take away the soul of Satyaban from his body. Savitri, deeply hurt pleaded to Yamraj not to be separated from her husband. If at all he would take away the soul of her husband she would also follow. Yamraj, moved by the devotion of Savitri returned the life of her husband. Satyaban came to life again and both of them lived happily thereafter.

Regional celebrations of Vat savitri vrat:

At Savitri Puja is celebrated across the India, especially in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Orissa. In south India this fast is known as Karadaiyan Nonbu and is observed by married women of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.