Yesterday was Savitri pooja. It is like the Oriya version of Karva Chauth, where women pray for the well being of their husbands. In other states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka, it called Vat Purnima.
I wasn't too keen to sit on this pooja because I obviously don't have a husband, but I was forced too and I was told that I would get a good husband if I participated. The second reason that I didn't want to sit is because I usually don't understand why we do certain rituals and I don't want to pray if I don't understand because I don't know what to do or ask for.
Just before the ritual however, I was told about why we celebrate Savitri pooja and the story intrigued me. Here is the legend behind Savitri pooja:
Satyavan was a woodchuck and was married to Savitri. His parents were blind so he was the breadwinner of the family. One day, he was really tired after a long hard day at work and said he would lie on Savitri's lap and take a nap. While he was napping, the Yamraj (the God of Death) came and said that he was going to claim Satyavan's soul. Savitri refused, saying that she was recently married and had no children at all. He refused and said that he had to take Satyavan's soul away as it was time. As he started to take away his soul, Savitri said that she would follow him. When Yamraj said that he was going down to hell, she said that she would continue to follow him there.
Yamraj walked the most treacherous paths filled with thorns, stones, glass and Savitri continued to follow him. After walking this treacherous path, Yamraj said that he admired her and would give her one wish that he would fulfill, except he would not bring her husband back. Savitri thought and asked for her in-laws to be able to see their grandson playing on a gold swing set. Yamraj gave her in-laws eyes so that they could see. He gave her a gold swing set with gold toys so that her grandson could play. When it came to granting the grandson, he realised that she had tricked him because her husband had to be alive for her to have a son, therefore Yamraj had to return Satyavan's soul to his body.
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So I know I said I'd read the Bhagvad Gita and blog on it, but it's been sitting on my bed side table hardly touched. Why? Because I've been so busy with a job and a half that I've had no time! Also, reading the first part of it was a bit hard to follow. Maybe it was my misconception that it was supposed to be like a story?