Sheetala Ashtmi

The tangy flavour of Fairs and Festivals in Rajasthan has their own charm. These fairs and festivals proves best opportunity for the guests to peep into and understand the cultural and traditional aspects of the land of royal figures more closely.

One of the small and grand festivals is the Sheetala Ashtami festival. Fair is also held at number of places in Rajasthan. The Sheetala Mata fair at a small hamlet Chaksu, Jaipur and Kaga, Jodhpur with great passion and zeal.

Sheetala Ashtami is celebrated during the spring season in the month of March after seven days of holi.

It is a common belief among all the people that worshipping Sheetla mata on Sheetla Ashtmi would prevent them from the deadly outbreak of diseases.

Sheetala Mata is commonly called the goddess of small pox. The huge excitement and gusto of celebration of the festival is worth watching.

The local market is the hub to display and trade a lot of items like indigenous shoes, food items, agricultural implements during the fair at the Sheetala Ashtami.

Even cattles are sold here. Flocks of people dressed in colorful attires add brightness in the environment.

Musical events are organized in which the participants display their talent. There are also a lot of rituals and religious activities to be performed during the play.

People feed old and needy people on the day and ask for their blessings.

It is noticeable though, that some communities observe the eighth day of Krishna Paksha of every month as Sheetalashtami. But the most auspicious one is the Chaitra Krishna Paksha Ashtami.

Celebration

Devotees prepared food one day before of Sheetla Asthami & the day of asthami they visit to the temple in queue and performed puja of Sheetla Mata with their food. People gorge on this food which is called Baseda in local lingo as a Prasad of Sheetla mata. All the eatables which are of cool in nature are offered to the diety. Some consider Bajra, Rabri and curd as an essential offering. A Separate temporary mandap is made for this day and a red stone representing the idol of Sheetala mata is kept there, for worship by devotees.

Time to celebrate

The auspicious day of Sheetalashtami, or Sheetala Ashtami, is dedicated to Goddess Sheetala in the month of Chaitra (March – April) as per the traditional hindu calendar followed in North India. Devotees keep fast on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of moon) in Chaitra month to cure from measles, chicken pox and small pox. In 2010, the Sheetalashtami Vrat will be observed on March 8.