Introduction Somvati Amavasya is considered a very powerful day for mitigating Pitra Dosh (ancestral curse) and for the long life of one’s husband. Married women observe a fast and circumambulate the Peepal tree 108 times, tying a sacred thread around it.

The Story (Vrat Katha) There was a money lender who had seven sons and one daughter. The daughter was very pious, but a visiting Sage (Sadhu) revealed a harsh truth: “She is destined to become a widow on the very day of her marriage.”

The family was devastated. The Sage offered a solution: “On the island of Singhal, there lives a washerwoman named Soma. She is a chaste and pious woman. If your daughter can serve her and get her blessings (transfer of her merit), the destiny can be changed.”

The youngest brother took his sister to the island. They found Soma’s house. The sister decided to serve Soma secretly. Every morning, before Soma woke up, the girl would clean Soma’s house and finish all the chores. Soma was puzzled about who was doing this work.

One day, Soma caught the girl. The girl wept and explained her destiny. Soma, who was a kind soul, agreed to accompany the girl to her wedding.

On the wedding day, as predicted, the groom died at the altar. However, Soma stepped forward and transferred the merit of her own pious deeds to the groom. Miraculously, the groom came back to life!

However, because Soma had given away all her merit, her own husband and sons died back home. Soma immediately ran back, stopped at a Peepal tree on the way, and worshipped it by circumambulating it 108 times (as it was a Monday Amavasya). She prayed to Lord Vishnu (who resides in the Peepal tree). By the grace of the Somvati Amavasya Vrat, her own family was restored to life when she returned.

Conclusion Since then, women observe this fast, circle the Peepal tree, and give alms to the poor to protect their husbands and seek blessings for their families.