Vat Purnima'' or Wata Pournima is a celebration observed in Maharashtra and Karnataka, India. Pournima means "full moon" and is celebrated on the full moon day (the 15th) of the month of Jyeshta on the Hindu Calendar, which falls in June on the Gregorian Calendar. Women pray for their husbands by tying threads around a banyan tree (wata) on this day. It honours Savitri, the legendary wife who rescued her husband's soul from the ruler of the departed, Yama.
Wata Pournima is the festival for Maharashtrian women, which is celebrated in the month of Jesht (May–June). Women observe a fast and tie threads around a banyan tree and pray for the same husband in every birth.
(... from Wikipedia on 2012-04-17 22:05:52)