Sheetala Ashtami Festival 2025 - Tuesday, April 22

The tangy flavor of fairs and festivals in Rajasthan has their own charm. These fairs and festivals prove to be the best opportunity for the guests to peep into and understand the cultural and traditional aspects of the land of royal figures more closely. Sheetala Ashtami is a Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess Sheetala, who is believed to protect against diseases, particularly smallpox. It’s celebrated mainly in parts of North India, such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and parts of Rajasthan. The festival usually falls on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the moon) in the month of Chaitra (March-April).

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


Sheetla Ashtami is celebrated during the spring season in March or the beginning of April, right after seven days of Holi.

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

Sheetla 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 on this festival.

Key Aspects of Sheetala Ashtami:

Worship of Goddess Sheetala: Devotees perform rituals to honor Goddess Sheetala, praying for health and protection from illnesses. The goddess is depicted as a benevolent deity who cures diseases and brings peace.

Preparation of Special Foods: Traditional foods like 'khichdi' (a dish made of rice and lentils) are prepared and offered to the goddess. This dish is often consumed as a meal on this day.

Observing Fasts: Many devotees observe a fast on this day, abstaining from certain foods and focusing on religious practices and rituals.

Community Activities: In some regions, the festival involves community gatherings, processions, and special prayers at temples dedicated to Sheetala Devi.

Even cattle 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 seek 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.

Celebrations

Devotees prepare food on the day before Sheetla Asthami and visit the to perform the puja of the goddess on the festival along with the food. People gorge on this food which is called Baseda in local lingo as a prasad of Sheetla mata. Some consider Bajra, Rabri and curd as an essential offering on this ocassion.

Time to Celebrate

The auspicious day of Sheetalashtami, or Sheetala Ashtami, is dedicated to Goddess Sheetla 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 2023, the Sheetalashtami Vrat will be observed on Wednesday, March 15.

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