Peepal Puja, or Pipal Puja, is the worship of the peepal tree especially during the Vat Savitri puja. Peepal Puja 2023 date is May 19. During Vat Savitri Puja, the Banyan or Pipal Tree symbolically represents Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The root of Vat Vriksha is Brahma, the stem is Vishnu and the upper part is Shiva. Those observing it on Jyeshta Purnima will be performing it on June 3, 2023.
The Peepal tree plays an important role in the famous Satyavan Savitri legend in the Mahabharata. It is believed that Satyavan spend his last moments under a Pipal tree on the full moon day in month of Jyeshtha (for some communities in North India it is the Amavasya day or no moon day in Jyeshta month). And Yamraj appeared here and Savitri pleaded with Yamraj under the Pipal tree. Through her determination, courage, intelligence and dedication, she was able to bring back her husband to life.
In memory of this event, women go round the Pipal for 108 times tying threads and fast for the health and longevity of their husbands. This is known as Pipal Puja and is observed mainly in Jyeshta month (May – June).