Sheetala Ashtami 2024 | Ashtami Tithi has a very special significance in the Hindu religion. This day is special for worshiping the Goddess, especially the Ashtami of Chaitra. Sheetala Mata is worshiped on this day and this day is also called Basoda. According to the Hindu Panchang, every year on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month, Sheetala Mata is worshipped. It is believed that worshiping and observing fast of Mother Sheetala ends many diseases, along with this a person is free from many diseases like skin diseases, smallpox throughout the year. Among the fasts of Sanatan Dharma, this is the only fast in which stale food is eaten. There is a religious belief that by worshiping Sheetala Mata, a person gets freedom from diseases and sufferings.
Sheetala Ashtami 2024 date and the auspicious time :
According to the Hindu calendar, every year Sheetala Ashtami i.e. Basoda is celebrated on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month and the Ashtami tithi of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month will start from 09:09 pm on Monday, 01 April 2024 to Tuesday, 02 April 2024 till 08:08 pm. In the year 2024, Sheetala Ashtami will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
Puja time of Sheetala Ashtami: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 from 06:19 am to 06:32 pm (total duration 12 hours 13 minutes)
Worship method of Sheetala Ashtami :
Worshipers who worship Mata Sheetala should wake up in the Brahma Muhurta on the day of Ashtami, after retiring from daily activities, and take bath. If possible, then take bath by mixing Ganga water in water and if there is no Ganga water then take bath with pure water. After taking bath, wear clean clothes. If possible, wear orange colored clothes on this day. After this, for worship, put two plates of curd, roti, salt, pare, pua, mathri, millet and Saptami in one plate. Keep the sweet rice made on the day and keep a lamp made of flour in another plate. Now keep the pot filled with cold water along with Roli, Akshat, clothes, Mehendi, coins. You should worship Sheetala Mata in the temple of your home but without lighting the lamp and offering the food kept in the plate, along with this, offer water to the Neem tree with a pot filled with cold water.
Why is Stale Bhog offered to Sheetala Mata?
In the worship of Sheetala Mata, stale bhog is offered because on the day of Sheetala Ashtami, there is no stove in the house, that is why food and bhog are prepared a day before, i.e. on the day of Saptami Sheetala, and on the next day, women wake up in the morning and offer prayers to Sheetala Mata. She worships and after that Sheetala Mata is offered food prepared on the day of Sheetala Saptami and serves stale food to all the members of the family. It is said that on the day of worship of Shitala Mata, one should not consume fresh food and take bath with hot water.
Significance of Sheetala Mata :
The worship of Shitala Mata is also known as Basoda Puja and this puja is celebrated on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha after Holi. Mata Sheetala is the goddess who provides health and coolness. Worshiping Mata Sheetala gives the blessing of happiness and prosperity and Mata Sheetala destroys the demon of disease hidden within her devotee. It is believed that the devotee who worships Mata Sheetala with true heart and complete all rituals, all their troubles go away and all their diseases get cured.
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