Bhubaneswar, May 25: Women across the city observed Sabitri Brata Thursday to seek blessings for their husbands. A festive fervour gripped the temple city on the auspicious occasion. Married women fasted all day long to pray for their husband’s long life. They worshiped goddess Sabitri and Yamraj. Women made beelines at city temples to seek blessings from the deities. They invited priests to observe the rituals at their respective homes. “It is the wives’ responsibility to pray for the husband’s well being,” said Radhika Sethi, a resident of Saheed Nagar. “I offer my prayers to the deity on this day so that I am able to live happily with my dear husband forever. If there’s something called a re-birth, I want to have my husband in my next life as well,” said another local, Sabita Mohanty According to the legend, Sabitri, a daughter of king Aswapati of Madra Desa, chose to marry
Satyavan, a prince in-exile. He was living in the forest with his blind father Dyumatsen. Sabitri left the palace and lived with her husband and the in-laws in the forest. One day while cutting wood in the jungle, Satyavan’s head reeled and he fell down from a tree. Then Yama, the death God, appeared to take away Satyavan’s soul. A devastated Sabitri pleaded with Yamraj to spare her husband. When Yama did not relent and started walking away with Satyavan’s soul, Savitri followed him. Moved by the devotion of Sabitri, Yama returned the life of her husband. Satyavan regained his lost kingdom as well.
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