Vrats for a Happy Married Life

Vrats are very important for Hindus. People observe vrats for various occasions. Some Vrats are observed on specific days of the year. There are also those vrats that are typically followed in lieu of a specific occasion. The vrats are usually followed by a pooja.

Among the several vrats practised, one type of vrat is the vrat observed for a happy married life. This vrat is typically followed by women in most instances for the long life and good health of their husbands. Most of the vrats for a happy married life are observed in North India compared to South India.

Karva Chauth

This vrat is typically observed on a full moon day in the Hindu Kartik month on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha. It is followed with utmost sincerity by married women.

Women fast from sunrise and break their fast only after they sight the moon and see their husbands through a sieve after that. Married women believe that observing this fast will ensure the long life, happiness and safety of their husbands.

Mangala Gauri

This vrat is observed by both married women and unmarried girls in the Hindu Shravan month. They follow this fast on all Tuesdays of the month. It is said that observing this vrat along with prayers to Parvati and Shiva helps to enhance the love and affection between both the partners.

Married women undertake this vrat for their husbands to be blessed with long life and prosperity. On the other hand, unmarried girls observe the fast for a good and ideal husband like Lord Shiva. It is believed that this is one of the vrats undertaken by Goddess Parvati to win over Lord Shiva.

Hartalika Teej

This vrat is observed in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada on the third day of the Shukla Paksha that is the waning phase of the moon. The vrat is also known by other names such as Swarna Gowri Vrat. Apart from North India, it is also common among married ladies of Karnataka who undertake the fast under the name Gowri Habba.

Married women undertake a rigorous fast for the long life and safety of their husbands. Unmarried girls observe the fast to get an ideal life partner. In some families, both the husband and wife follow the vrat for marital bliss and progeny and worship sand idols of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati to seek their blessings. The vrat often coincides with Ganesh Chaturti.

Vat Savitri

This vrat is observed on Jyestha Amavasya and the day falls on the same day as Shani Jayanti. Married women observe the fast for the longevity and happiness of their life partners. They also offer their prayers to the Vat or banyan tree on this day.

Sawan Somwar Vrat

This vrat is often referred to as 16 Mondays fast. As the name indicates, the fast is observed for 16 Mondays along with a worship to Lord Shiva. This is also considered to be a fast observed by Goddess Parvati to have Lord Shiva as her husband.

Married ladies undertake this fast for the protection and safety of their husbands. Unmarried women observe the fast to get an ideal and suitable life partner.

Viyog Triteeya Vrat

This vrat is observed in the Hindu Maargsheersh month on the second day of Shukla Paksha. As a part of the vrat rituals, idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are made of rice the next day and worshipped along with a pooja. This idol is donated to a Brahmin the following day.

Married women undertake this fast to seek the long life of their husbands and not to be separated from them. They end the fast by making kheer in the evening and eating it.

The above vrats are believed to help the couple enjoy marital bliss. Lord Shiva and His consort Maa Parvati are worshipped with utmost fervour when this vrat is observed. This is because they are considered to be a divine couple and when they are worshipped together, the couple blessed with prosperity and harmony in their married lives.