Santoshi Mata Vrat Katha

Dadi: "Guddu, would you like to hear a story that's told every Friday in millions of homes? A story about a poor woman whose faith changed everything?"

Guddu: "Yes, Dadi!"

Dadi: "This is the Vrat Katha - the fasting story - of Santoshi Mata."

Guddu: "Tell me!"

Dadi: "There was once an old woman with seven sons. Six of them earned good money. The seventh son earned nothing. Can you guess who got treated badly?"

Guddu: "The seventh son and his wife?"

Dadi: "Exactly! The old woman cooked delicious food for her six earning sons but gave only leftovers to the youngest. His poor wife had to do all the household work, collect firewood from the forest, and eat bread made from husk with water in a broken vessel."

Guddu: "That's so cruel!"

Dadi: "One day, while collecting wood in the forest, the young woman saw a group of women gathered together, observing a fast. They were telling stories and offering prayers. Curious, she stopped to watch."

Guddu: "What were they doing?"

Dadi: "They were observing the Santoshi Mata Vrat! A kind woman explained: "By fasting on Fridays for sixteen weeks, poverty is removed and all wishes come true. You only need to offer jaggery and roasted chickpeas, listen to the story, avoid sour food, and complete the ceremony when your wish is granted.""

Guddu: "Simple offerings!"

Dadi: "The poor woman began the fast with great devotion. She went to Santoshi Mata's temple, touched the goddess's feet, and cried, "Mother, please help me!""

Guddu: "Did anything happen?"

Dadi: "On the first Friday, she felt peace in her heart. On the second Friday, a letter arrived from her husband who had been away for a long time! On the third Friday, he sent money!"

Guddu: "It was working!"

Dadi: "But the woman went back to the temple and prayed, "Mother, I don't just want money. I want to see my husband." And Santoshi Mata was pleased. "Go, daughter," she said. "Your husband will come." And he did - returning home prosperous and loving!"

Guddu: "That's wonderful!"

Dadi: "After sixteen Fridays, the woman prepared for the completion ceremony. She made sweets, puri, kheer, and chickpea curry. She lit a ghee lamp and broke a coconut. She invited neighborhood children to share the blessed food."

Guddu: "Everything was perfect?"

Dadi: "Almost! But her jealous sisters-in-law - the wives of the six earning brothers - secretly mixed sour food into the offerings!"

Guddu: "Oh no! That was the one rule!"

Dadi: "Santoshi Mata was angered. As punishment, the husband was arrested on false charges and thrown in prison!"

Guddu: "Because of the sour food?"

Dadi: "Because the sacred rule was broken. The poor woman was devastated. Then she discovered what her sisters-in-law had done. But instead of giving up, she started again!"

Guddu: "She did the whole thing over?"

Dadi: "Sixteen more Fridays, with perfect devotion. This time, she made absolutely sure no sour food touched anything. When she completed the ceremony properly, Santoshi Mata was fully pleased."

Guddu: "What happened?"

Dadi: "Her husband was released! All false charges were dropped. They were blessed with children, wealth, and lasting happiness."

Guddu: "The faith worked, but only when the rules were followed!"

Dadi: "That's an important lesson, beta. Devotion requires sincerity AND following through properly. The woman's faith was always strong, but the sabotage broke the vow."

Guddu: "And the sisters-in-law who were jealous?"

Dadi: "The story doesn't say, but jealousy and sabotage never lead to happiness. They only delayed the blessing - they couldn't stop it."

Guddu: "So the lesson is: keep faith, follow the rules, and don't let others' jealousy stop you?"

Dadi: "Yes! And one more thing - the woman didn't want wealth alone. She wanted her husband, her family, her love. Santoshi Mata understood that true satisfaction isn't about money. It's about the people we love being with us."

Guddu: "That's why she's the goddess of contentment!"

Dadi: "Exactly, beta. She fulfills not just what we ask for, but what we truly need. May Santoshi Mata bless you with that kind of wisdom - to know what really matters and to have the faith to pursue it."