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Sheetala Saptami

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.