Why are the Bena and Banyan fruits essential for the Vat Savitri Vrat? Check out the list of worship materials..
Vat Savitri Vrat 2026 Puja Samagri: Vat Savitri Vrat falls on Saturday, May 16th. According to the Panchang (Hindu almanac), the Vat Savitri Vrat is observed on Jyeshtha Amavasya (the New Moon day of the month of Jyeshtha). On this day, married women observe a fast and perform worship to attain *Akhand Saubhagya*—uninterrupted marital bliss and eternal good fortune. The Vat Savitri Vrat involves the use of a bamboo hand fan and fruits from the Banyan tree, both of which hold special significance; indeed, the ritual is considered incomplete without them. If you intend to observe the Vat Savitri Vrat, you should prepare a checklist of the necessary worship materials and procure them well in advance.
Why is the 'Bena' (Bamboo Fan) Essential for Vat Savitri Vrat?
During the worship rituals of the Vat Savitri Vrat, it is customary in certain regions to offer a 'Bena' (a bamboo hand fan) as part of the ceremony. After the worship is concluded, the women use this very fan to gently fan their husbands.
According to legend, when Lord Yamraj (the God of Death) restored Satyavan's life, Satyavan regained consciousness. At that moment, he was extremely exhausted and felt overwhelmed by the heat. It was the month of Jyeshtha—a time characterized by intense heat. Consequently, Savitri fashioned a makeshift fan using bamboo leaves and twigs to fan him, providing him with much-needed relief. Since that time, it has become a tradition for women observing this fast to fan their husbands using a bamboo fan.
Following the worship rituals of the Vat Savitri Vrat, the women observing the fast swallow the fruits of the Banyan tree, aided by water. These Banyan fruits are also colloquially referred to as 'Badkula.' Popular belief holds that by performing this act, women attain the same level of marital bliss and inner strength as Goddess Savitri herself.
The roots of the Banyan tree spread far and wide; moreover, new trees often sprout directly from these very roots. For this reason, the Banyan tree is revered as the *Akshaya Vriksha*—the 'Imperishable Tree.' It is regarded as a potent symbol of lineage continuity and the growth of the family line. While worshipping the Banyan tree, women observing the fast offer prayers for the expansion of their family lineage and for a harmonious, blissful married life.
Vat Savitri Vrat 2026 Puja Materials List
A Vat Vriksha (Banyan tree)
A 'Bena' (a hand fan made of bamboo)
Banyan fruit
Raw cotton thread or a *Raksha Sutra* (protective thread)
Idols of Goddess Savitri and Satyavan
Vermilion (*Sindoor*), seasonal fruits, *Roli* (red ceremonial powder), sandalwood paste, flowers, *Batasha* (sugar puffs)
1.25 meters of cloth, *Suhag* items (marital adornments), betel leaves (*Paan*), betel nuts (*Supari*)
A *Kalash* (ritual pot) filled with water, sweets, *Makhana* (fox nuts)
Home-cooked delicacies, peanuts, soaked chickpeas, jaggery (*Gur*), *Puri* (deep-fried bread)
A book containing the Vat Savitri Vrat legend (*Katha*) and worship procedure
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