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Sheetala Ashtami (Basoda)

  • Puja vidhi
  • 6 Wishes to send
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Sheetala Ashtami (Basoda)

Why it is celebrated

About a week after Holi, on Chaitra Krishna Ashtami, Sheetala Mata is worshipped. The day is called Basoda because no stove is lit at home; food cooked the day before is offered cold to Mata and then eaten as prasad. As summer begins, families pray to her for everyone's well-being.

The story

Once Sheetala Mata thought, let me see who on earth remembers me from the heart. Taking the form of an old woman, she came to a village in Rajasthan.

As she walked down a lane, someone threw boiling rice water from a house, and it fell on her. Her body began to burn. She called for help, but no one came.

Just then a potter woman sitting outside her house saw her. She lovingly seated the old woman, poured cool water over her and said, 'Maa, I have some rabdi made last night and a little curd; please eat.' The cold food brought the old woman great relief.

Then the old woman showed her true form; she was Sheetala Mata. The potter woman folded her hands and said, 'Maa, I don't even have a seat to offer you in my home.' Mata smiled, sat on the donkey standing at her house and, with her broom, swept the poverty out of her home.

The potter woman prayed that Mata would stay in that village and keep her grace on all who offer her cool water and cold food on Ashtami. Basoda has been celebrated ever since.

Puja vidhi

  1. On the evening of Saptami, clean the kitchen and cook the next day's food, such as sweet jaggery rice, puris, puas, rabdi and curd.
  2. On Ashtami, do not light the stove at home; bathe in the morning and take a sankalp for the puja.
  3. Take a thali with the cold food, cool water, roli, haldi, rice and flowers to Sheetala Mata's temple, or worship her at home.
  4. Offer Mata cool water and the cold food as bhog, and listen to the Sheetala Ashtami katha.
  5. In many places puja is also done where the Holika fire was lit; after the puja, take the blessings of the elders at home.
  6. Through the day, eat the same cold prasad with your family. By tradition, stale food is not eaten after today through the summer.

Food

Food cooked the day before and eaten cold: sweet jaggery rice, kadhi, puri, pua, rabdi and curd.

Wishes to send

  • Warm wishes on Sheetala Ashtami! May Sheetala Mata's cool shade always be over your family.

  • Cool water, the cold offering and a sincere heart. On Basoda, our prayer to Mata is that everyone stays well.

  • Jai Sheetala Mata! May your home stay full of peace, calm and warmth.

  • A potter woman served an old lady, and Mata took her as her own. No dharma is greater than service. Happy Basoda!

  • As summer begins, we pray to Sheetala Mata that your family stays happy and well.

  • Rest for the stove today, Mata's name in the heart. Greetings on Sheetala Ashtami!

For your status

  • Jai Sheetala Mata.

  • Today is Basoda, the day of the cold offering.

  • No dharma is greater than service.

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