Shitala Ashtami 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat, Vrat Katha & Significance

Sheetala Ashtami also called Basora Puja (which means previous night) is celebrated on the 8th day (Ashtami) and it is celebrated after the festival of colors, Holi. Holi is a Hindu festival celebrated in honor of the Goddess Shitala or Sheetala. According to the Hindu calendar, Sheetala Ashtami takes place on the 8th day of Krishna Paksha (the waning moon) in the month of Chaitra or Phalguna. The devotees worship Sheetala Mata (an incarnation of Durga Mata) on this auspicious day.

Table of Contents 

1. Shitala Ashtami 2026 Date and Time 
2. Significance of Shitala Ashtami:
3. Rituals and Traditions of Shitala Ashtami
4. Regional Celebrations of Sheetala Ashtami
5. Scientific Relevance of Sheetala Ashtami
6. Story associated with Sheetala Ashtami
7. Sheetala Ashtami Puja vidhi

Shitala Ashtami 2026 Date and Time

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Muhurat for Sheetala Ashtami Puja: 06:36 AM–06:27 PM 11 hours and 51 minutes

Sheetala Saptami Ashtami Tithi begins on March 11, 2026, at 01:54 AM Ashtami Tithi ends on March 12, 2026, at 04:19 AM.

Significance of Shitala Ashtami:

Durga mata is the one who saves people from numerous diseases like smallpox, measles, chicken pox, and other heat-borne diseases. Many images and idols of the Goddess show her with two or four hands. When the Goddess is depicted with 4 hands, she holds a short broom, neem leaves, a fan, and a Kalash. When she is depicted with two hands, she holds a short broom for cleaning the germs and viruses, and Kalash with Gangajal in the other for purification. Apart from this, her vehicle is a donkey. Goddess Sheetala blesses the wards and devotees to stay away from heat-borne diseases or ailments. As per the tradition, the devotees do not light fire on this holy day to prepare food, and therefore they eat food items which are already prepared on the previous day. The devotees prepare a special dish made with rice and jaggery or sugarcane juice on Saptami Tithi to offer the Naiveidhya Prasada.

Rituals and Traditions of Shitala Ashtami

1. Basi Bhojan (Eating Stale Food)

The most unique tradition of Shitala ashtami is to eat stale food the whole day. Cooking is not allowed on this day. People believe that eating cold food can prevent heat-related ailments.

2. Shitala Mata Puja

Devotees must visit the temple of Shitala Mata on this day and offer turmeric, flowers, and food to the Goddess. 

3. Observing a Fast (Vrat)

Devotees should observe strict fast and recite the stories of Shitala Mata on this auspicious day.

4. Cleaning and Sprinkling Water

It is believed that Sprinkling Ganga jal in the house purifies the surroundings and keeps diseases at bay.

Regional Celebrations of Sheetala Ashtami:

Sheetala Ashtami is celebrated with different regional customs across India:

1. Rajasthan & Gujarat: Women prepare special basi food and visit Shitala Mata temples. Large fairs and processions take place in some towns.
2. Uttar Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh: Devotees perform elaborate pujas at home and offer prasad made from curd, puris, and rabri.
3. West Bengal & Odisha: The festival is linked with the worship of Oladevi, another form of Sheetala Mata, associated with curing diseases.
4. Maharashtra: Some communities celebrate it by offering water and tulsi leaves to the deity, along with traditional food.

Scientific Relevance of Sheetala Ashtami:

The Sheetala Ashtami vrat needs devotees to have stale food but it should be clean food. The food has to be cold (room temperature) and must include sour elements in it. The devotees perform fasting rituals and it is a day of no cooking, a day to have cooked food of the previous day. The Goddess is depicted holding a broom and wearing a neem leaf mala to signify the importance of cleanliness. The Goddess is seen carrying a Kalash filled with clean water which implies food health. The neem is a natural tree product with immense medicinal value. In scientific terms, the neem garland signifies antibiotics to fight germs and infections.

Story associated with Sheetala Ashtami:

There are various legend stories related to the Sheetala Ashtami Vrat. According to one of the popular legends related to the festival, there was a king with the name Shubhaketi. He was a virtuous and generous king who had a beautiful daughter named Shenhalata. The King was the devotee of Sheetala Mata. Every year, the king and the people of his kingdom used to celebrate Sheetala ashtami with great devotion. After many years, the daughter of King Shubhaketu got married to Prince Priyabrata. Once Shenhalata visited the kingdom of her father during the festival season and participated in the puja of Sheetala Ashtami according to the ritual of the royal household. As per Royal House customs, Shenhalata along with the friends left for a pond located near the forest. In the meantime, they lost their way to the pond and were asking for help. At that point, Sheetala Mata took the form of an old lady and guided them to the pond. During the discussion, she also helped in performing the rituals.

Sheetala Ashtami Puja Vidhi:

The Sheetala Ashtami puja starts at the beginning of summer season during March-April month. The major festival rituals are observed in the western and northern villages, especially in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. In South India, she is worshipped by varying names such as Goddess Poleramma and Goddess Mariamman. 

• Wake up early in the morning, and take a cold water bath before sunrise. Then visit Sheetla temple to perform the rituals.
• Offer a diya made of wheat flour dough but do not light the lamp. 
• Then offer mehendi, haldi, sindoor, flowers, paan, supari, coconut, currency coins, sweets and bananas. 
• Then prepare the thali (food prepared a day before) for the puja and fill water in the pot (kalash).
• Chant mantras and offer prayers to seek blessings from her and request her to accept your offerings.
• Perform the aarti and offer flowers to finish the puja and then distribute PrasPrasada to all the members.
• A devotee should not observe fast on this day and should only eat the Prasada of the puja.