Vrat

Term denoting a religious vow, usually
thought to be derived from the verb
meaning “to choose.” As religious observances, vrats are an important part of
modern Hindu life. They may refer to
religious practices performed once a
year with particular festivals, such as the
vrat performed on Shivaratri, or to
more regular religious observances,
such as those connected to the monthly
lunar calendar (e.g., the ekadashi rites)
or those performed on the day of the
week associated with a particular patron
deity. The specific prescriptions for
these vrats vary widely, but there are
several common features. They usually
involve modification of diet—sometimes through fasting (upavasa), and
other times by eating or avoiding certain types of food. Another constant feature is worship of the presiding deity.
Part of this worship usually involves
reading or hearing the vrat’s charter
myth, which tells how the vrat was
established, how one should perform it,
and what sort of benefits it brings. Vrats
connected with festivals are performed
by all sorts of people, but weekly vrats
(such as the Santoshi Ma Vrat) are most
often performed by married women to
promote the health, safety, and prosperity of their families. Although such
weekly vrats are theoretically voluntary,
they have become an expected element
in women’s religious life, through which
women by their sacrifices can safeguard
their family’s welfare. For further consideration of women’s rites, see Mary
McGee, “Desired Fruits: Motive And
Intention in the Votive Rites of Hindu
Women,” in Julia Leslie, ed., Roles and
Rituals for Hindu Women, 1991; and
Doranne Jacobson and Susan S. Wadley,
Women in India, 1992.