TV
In a world where lifelong commitment often fades under hardship, two women from Odisha have become living examples of devotion and sacrifice.
Far from the symbolic rituals of Sabitri Brata, Jayanti Puhan, and Sumati Jena embody the vow of caring for their husbands not just through fasting but through unyielding service, love, and daily struggle.
Jayanti's Silent Battle in Gobardhanpur
In Gobardhanpur village under Remuna block in Balasore, Jayanti Puhan has become the pillar of her family since her husband Ajay, became bedridden seven years ago.
Once a helper at a brick kiln, Ajay suffered a debilitating brain stroke, leaving him paralysed and dependent. Jayanti, refusing to give in to despair, now juggles caregiving with earning a living, taking care of her husband, son, and mother-in-law, while working as a domestic help to feed the family.
“When he (Ajay) was in good health, he would toil hard daily and sustain our livelihoods. Now that he has suffered this misfortune, it is my duty to look after him and care for our family,” said Jayanti, while also emphasising that a marriage vow is meant to last forever.
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Sumati’s 13-Year Vigil in Mandarsahi
A similar story unfolds in Mandarsahi village under Bhograi block of the same district, where Sumati Jena has spent the last 13 years caring for her husband, Paresh, who was left immobile after an accident during the 2012 Chandaneshwar Chadak festival.
In order to make ends meet, she works in others’ homes and spends her remaining time attending to Paresh’s needs.
“On the day of Sabitri, I still fulfil my vows and fast for my husband’s good health. I am unable to afford new clothes, but caring for my husband is the bigger gift,” said Jena.
Moved by her plight, Mahespur Sarpanch Barendra Patra extended financial aid and acknowledged her quiet strength, stating that she was a true Sabitri of today’s time.
As Odisha observes Sabitri Brata, these two women remind us that the essence of the ritual lies not just in tradition but in the tireless compassion and courage of a wife who refuses to abandon her partner in an act of eternal selflessness.
