Jaipur, March 20, 2025.
21st and 22nd March are Saptami and Ashtami of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month. There is a tradition of doing special worship and fasting of Sheetla Mata on these dates.
There is a tradition of worshipping and fasting for Sheetla Mata on Saptami and Ashtami of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month. This fast is especially observed by women and they offer cold food to the mother. It is believed that observing this fast protects one from seasonal diseases.
The form of Sheetla Mata is different from other goddesses. Mata rides a donkey and has a pot, broom, sieve and a garland of neem leaves in her hands. These items have special significance.
It is said that in ancient times, people of a village offered hot food to Sheetla Mata, which burnt her face and she became angry. Due to her anger, the village caught fire, but the house of an old woman was saved from this fire.
When people asked the reason for this, the old woman told that she had offered cold food to the Goddess. Since then the tradition of offering cold food to the Goddess started.
