Among the important festivals of Hindus, Sheetala Saptami is a festival dedicated to the goddess Sheetala or Sheetala Mata. It is observed twice in a year, once during the ‘Krishna Paksha Saptami’ (7th day during the waning phase of moon) in the Hindu month of ‘Chaitra’ and the second occurrence is during the ‘Shukla Paksha Saptami’ (7th day during the waxing phase of moon) in ‘Shravana’ month of the traditional Hindu calendar. On this day, Hindu devotees worship Goddess Sheetala in the belief that the goddess will protect their children from contagious diseases such as Chicken Pox and Small Pox. This festival is celebrated especially in the rural regions of India.
Rituals during Sheetala Saptami:
On the day of Sheetala Saptami, Ladies get up early in the morning and take a bath in cold water. After taking bath they often visit temples of Sheetala Mata to offer their prayers to the goddess. On Sheetala Saptami some of the devotees also get a ‘mundan’ (shaving of the head) in the honour of Goddess Sheetala. In some places of India, eating hot food is strictly prohibited and people eat food which was cooked a day before. Some women keep fast on this day, some walk without sleepers, some eat food without salt etc. to please goddess Sheetala. Women mostly keep this fast for the well-being of her children and family.