Jayaparvati Vrat

Jayaparvati Vrat is significant fasting period dedicated to Goddess Jaya, a form of Goddess Parvati. Jayaparvati Vrat is mainly observed in Gujarat. The fasting of Jayaparvati is observed by unmarried girls as well as by married women. The unmarried girls observe it to seek good husband and married women observe it for marital bliss and long life of their husband.

Jayaparvati Vrat is observed for 5 days in the month of Ashadha. It begins on the Shukla Paksha Trayodashi and ends after five days on Krishna Paksha Tritiya. Jayaparvati fasting is suggested for five, seven, nine, eleven or up to twenty continuous years.

Devotees, observing Jaya Parvati Vrat, especially abstain from eating salted food. The salt is completely avoided during five days fasting period. Some even avoid cereals and all sorts of vegetables during five days fasting period.

On the first day of the fasting, wheat seeds known as Javara are sown in a small pot and kept on Puja altar. The seed pot is worshipped for five days. During Puja, a necklace made of cotton wool and known as Nagla, is decorated with Kumkum i.e. vermilion. This ritual continues for five days and wheat seeds are watered every morning.

On the last fasting day, i.e. one day before Gauri Tritiya Puja when fasting is broken after morning Puja, the women keep awake whole night and meditate through chanting religious Bhajan and Aartis. The ritual of night long vigil, while singing religious hymns, is known as Jayaparvati Jagran.

On the next day, in the morning, the grown wheat grass is taken out of the pot and immersed in the holy water, either in the river or some other water body. After morning Puja, the fast is broken by eating a full meal consisting of salt, vegetables and bread made of wheat.