Vat Savitri Puja Samagriवट सावित्री पूजा सामग्री

The Vat Savitri puja samagri is the set of items a woman takes to the banyan tree on the day of the Vat Savitri Vrat or Vat Purnima. Most of it is already found in a Hindu home, and nothing costly is required. The list below is grouped so that you can check it off while packing your puja thali. Customs vary by region and family; add or leave out items as your elders advise.

Once the items are ready, follow the Vat Savitri puja vidhi for the steps.

For worship and decoration

• Roli or kumkum
• Sindoor (vermilion)
• Haldi (turmeric), whole or powder
• Akshat (unbroken rice)
• Chandan (sandal paste), if available
• Fresh flowers and a small garland
• Paan leaves and supari (betel nut), in some families
• Moli or kalava (red sacred thread)

For the banyan tree and parikrama

• Kachcha sut (raw cotton thread), white or dyed red or yellow, in a reel or hank long enough for all your rounds
• A lota or kalash of clean water for the roots
• A hand fan (pankha) of bamboo or palm leaf
• A small picture or clay image of Savitri and Satyavan; some families also keep Yamraj and Brahma
• A small mat or cloth to sit on

The thread is wound around the trunk during the parikrama. The parikrama and raksha sutra page explains how many rounds and what to do with the thread.

Lamp and incense

• A clay or brass diya with ghee or oil and a cotton wick
• Incense sticks (agarbatti) or dhoop
• Matches, kept in a small box away from the thread
• Camphor (kapur), if you do the aarti

Bhog and prasad

• Soaked black gram (bhige chane), soaked overnight; this is the main offering
• Seasonal fruits: mango, banana, litchi, jackfruit or any five fruits
• Puri, gulgule, halwa, kheer or another home-made sweet
• Gur (jaggery) or batasha
• A coconut, in some regions

Suhag items and the baya

• Bangles, bindi, sindoor, mehendi, kajal, comb and mirror, offered to Savitri or given to other women
• A red or yellow chunri or small cloth for Savitri
• For the baya to the mother-in-law, in North Indian custom: fruits, sweets, soaked gram, a sari or cloth, suhag items and some money
• Coins or dakshina

The married woman's own dress and ornaments are described on the solah shringar page.

Summary table

Puja at home

If you cannot reach a banyan tree, add a small banyan twig in a pot of soil or water, or a picture of the banyan tree, and a clean chowki with a red cloth. The rest of the list stays the same.

Practical tips

• Soak the black gram the night before; a handful per woman is enough.
• Carry a bottle of water for after the puja, especially in the summer heat.
• Choose cotton thread rather than synthetic, and avoid leaving plastic bags at the tree.
• Keep the lamp away from dry leaves and clothing, and put it out before leaving.

Frequently asked questions