Married Hindu women tie sacred threads around a banyan tree on the occasion of ‘Vata Savitri Poornima’ in Ahmedabad, Gujarat yesterday. On the occasion of Vata Savitri Poornima married Hindu women keep a fast for the long life and good health of their husbands and break their fast by performing rituals beneath a banyan tree. The day’s ritual involves worshipping a banyan (vata) tree by applying holy ‘red kumkum’ (vermillion) and turmeric and placing flowers and lighting incense sticks reverentially and culminates with the women circumambulating the tree seven times round, unwinding a spool of white thread in their hands as a priest recites mantras.
