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Women across state mark Sabitri Brata with fasting and prayers

Women across state mark Sabitri Brata with fasting and prayers

Time of India26-05-2025

Bhubaneswar: Women across Odisha observed Sabitri Brata on Monday with traditional fervour, praying for the long life and well-being of their husbands. Dressed in festive attire and traditional jewellery, married women thronged temples, performed rituals, offered prayers and undertook a day-long fast.
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Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi wished women on the occasion and wrote on X post, "The great festival of Odia culture and tradition, I extend my best wishes and greetings to all the married mothers and sisters. I pray for a long and blessed married life for every married woman."
Apart from the huge rush in temples, women were also seen gathered under banyan trees in different localities across the city, reading the legend behind Sabitri Brata on the occasion.
"Every year, I observe this fast with full faith and hope. It is a festival that celebrates the strength of love and prayer," said Subhashree Sahu, a devotee at Budheswari Temple in the city.
Social media is flooded with posts of people wishing each other on the festival, and women, including many celebrities, posted their pictures after completing puja. The transgender community also observed the festival with much fanfare and celebrated the rituals.
"Spiritual practices are not confined to gender. For the transgender community, Sabitri Brata holds special significance as we observe the fast and pray for their guru or mentor's long life.
On this festival, we share a strong bond within the community," said Menaka Kinnar of the Nayapalli area in the city.
Female inmates in jails across Odisha were also allowed to observe the festival. Special arrangements were made by the prison authorities to enable them to perform the rituals inside the prison premises.
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Bhubaneswar: Women across Odisha observed Sabitri Brata on Monday with traditional fervour, praying for the long life and well-being of their husbands. Dressed in festive attire and traditional jewellery, married women thronged temples, performed rituals, offered prayers and undertook a day-long fast.
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi wished women on the occasion and wrote on X post, "The great festival of Odia culture and tradition, I extend my best wishes and greetings to all the married mothers and sisters.
I pray for a long and blessed married life for every married woman."
Apart from the huge rush in temples, women were also seen gathered under banyan trees in different localities across the city, reading the legend behind Sabitri Brata on the occasion. "Every year, I observe this fast with full faith and hope. It is a festival that celebrates the strength of love and prayer," said Subhashree Sahu, a devotee at Budheswari Temple in the city.
Social media is flooded with posts of people wishing each other on the festival, and women, including many celebrities, posted their pictures after completing puja. The transgender community also observed the festival with much fanfare and celebrated the rituals. "Spiritual practices are not confined to gender. For the transgender community, Sabitri Brata holds special significance as we observe the fast and pray for their guru or mentor's long life.
On this festival, we share a strong bond within the community," said Menaka Kinnar of the Nayapalli area in the city.
Female inmates in jails across Odisha were also allowed to observe the festival. Special arrangements were made by the prison authorities to enable them to perform the rituals inside the prison premises.

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