Sheetla Ashtami is celebrated after a few days from Holi. Goddess Sheetla’s worship begins from Ashtami Tithi in Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month. This year, it will be celebrated on Friday, 15th March 2023. Goddess Sheetla is worshipped on this day. Stale and cold food is offered to Goddess Sheetla on this day. This is known as Basauda. The same food is eaten as Prasad. It is distributed among devotees in the form of Naivedya.
Sheetla Ashtami Fast Eliminates Diseases
In Skanda Purana, Sheetla Mata’s Stotra has been called Sheetlashtak. It is believed that Sheetlashtak was written by Lord Shiva. Sheetla Mata is worshipped as an important Hindu Goddess. The magnificence of Goddess Sheetla has been explained in numerous religious scriptures. Goddess Sheetla has been talked about in Skanda Purana in detail. Sheetla Mata is usually associated with chickenpox. She can be seen holding a pot, soup, broom ad neem leaves. She rides a donkey.
Sheetla Ashtami Worship
As mentioned earlier, stale and cold food is offered to Sheetla Mata on this day. This is known as Basauda. This is done on the day of Ashtami. Devotees also fast on this day and worship Goddess Sheetla. Sheetla Mata’s story is also recited. After this, she is worshipped and Sheetlashtak is read. Sheetlashtak explains the magnificence of Sheetla Mata. Her mantras are also chanted.
After Sheetla Mata’s worship, Prasad is distributed among all the devotees. Sheetla Ashtami is known as Basauda in northern India. According to beliefs, keeping this fast eliminates all kinds of health problems like fever, chickenpox, eye problems etc.
Importance of Sheetla Ashtami
Food is not cooked in a home on this day. Sheetla Mata is worshipped on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha in Chaitra, Vaishakh, Jyeshtha and Ashadh months. Hence, these days are known as Sheetla Ashtami. In present times, Sheetla Mata’s worship encourages a person about cleanliness and hygiene.
A person is inspired to keep his surroundings clean and tidy. It is very important to keep your surroundings clean to protect yourself from the negative impacts of environmental changes. Hence, Sheetla Mata’s worship is very important.