Shree Swasthani Brat (fast) is the fasting that Nepali women scattered in Nepal and elsewhere observe strictly from Paush Shukla Purnima and conclude it on Magh Shukla Purnima. According to the mythological context, Nepal is considered as the playground of Bhagwati Parbati (Goddess Parbati/Parvati) daughter of the Himalaya and she is worshiped for a month in the name of Swasthani Devi in Nepal. Shree Swasthani fast is the difficult vow made by Goddess Parbati/Parvati, a devotee of Lord Shiva, to receive Lord Shiva as a bridegroom from her childhood. In this (Brat) Fast, Lord Shiva, who lives with Parvati, is also worshiped.
In the Satya Yuga (Golden Age, according to Sanatan dharma, i.e Hinduism), as mentioned in the Purans, according to the advice of Lord Bishnu, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya, fasted in Shree Swasthani Brat to get Mahadev (Lord Shiva) as her husband and it is also mentioned that fasting during this occasion fulfills one’s wishes. Parbati wanted to be Mahadev’s wife from an early age. When Parbati was mature enough for marriage, her father Himalaya started preparing to give her in marriage to Lord Bishnu. After knowing this, Parvati ran away and went to the remote forest, started meditating on Mahadev, and began to do severe penance. Ashutosh Mahadev was pleased with this and after approval from Lord Bishnu, he suggested him to find an idea so that Parbati can get Mahadev himself as her husband. After Bishnu advised Parbati to Fast, observe Shree Swasthani Brat following strict methods so that she can get Mahadev as her husband, Parbati duly fasted to Swasthani for a month and the effect of the same fast she got Mahadev as her husband.
