Sheetala Saptami is an important
Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Sheetala or Sheetala Maata. It is observed
twice in a year, once during the ‘Krishna Paksha Saptami’ in the Hindu month of
‘Chaitra’ and ‘Shukla Paksha Saptami’ (7th day during the waxing phase of moon)
in ‘Shravana’ month of the traditional Hindu calendar. As per the Gregorian
calendar, these dates correspond to the months of March-April and July-August
respectively. Of these two observances, the one in the Chaitra month is very
important.
On the day of Sheetala Saptami,
Hindu devotees worship Goddess Sheetala to protect their family members,
especially children from contagious diseases such as Chicken Pox and Small Pox.
This festival is celebrated with great fervour all over India, specially the
rural regions.
Rituals and Practices
On the day of Sheetala Saptami,
Goddess Sheetala Devi is worshipped. People get up early in the morning and
bath in cold water. Later they visit the temples dedicated to Sheetala Mataa to
offer their prayers. Various rituals are performed on this day for a peaceful
and happy life.
On Sheetala Saptami some of the
devotees also get a ‘mundan’ (shaving of the head) in the honour of Goddess
Sheetala. In some places, people do not prepare food on this day and consume
food, which is prepared on the previous day. Eating hot food is strictly
prohibited on this day. Some devotees even keep a vrata on this day to please
Goddess Sheetala. Women mostly keep this fast for the well-being of her
children.
Significance and Beliefs
The significance of Sheetala Saptami is mentioned in the ‘Skanda Purana’. Sheetala Saptami is dedicated to Goddess Sheetala. In Hindu mythology, Sheetala Mataa is the Goddess of Small Pox. She is considered to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati and Goddess Durga, the two forms of Shakti worshipped in Hinduism. Hindu devotees worship Sheetala Mata on this day, along with their children to seek protection from such diseases. The word ‘Sheetala’ means ‘cool’ and it is believed that Goddess Sheetala offers coolness to devotees suffering from contagious diseases.