Sitala Saptami

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August 18, 2003

 

Sitala Saptami

Sitala Saptami falls on the seventh day of the light half of the

month of Shravan. It usually comes in the month of July or August.

This year Sitala Saptami is on 19th August 2003. This days comes two

days after Nag Panchami and one day before Janmastmi.

 

On this day people observe fast. It is celebrated in the honour of

small pox goddess Sitala Devi.

 

Sitala (the cool one) is the goddess who is associated with disease

particularly smallpox and there are many temples and shrines in her

honour. Her shrines are usually found outside Indian villages, under

trees or in groves.

 

One of the days she is specially worshipped is on Shravan krishna

seventh, in Gujarat popularly known as Sitala Saptami. One particular

thing about her worship is that the accepts the prayers and offerings

of widows, if mothers, on behalf of their children.

 

During the day of her worship one is supposed to abstain from all

hot, or cooked, food and drink. The reason may be to avoid hot thing

and is more likely to be the longing for cold water on the part of

smallpox patients.

 

Goddess Sitala has a donkey as her vahaan (vehicle). She is the

bestower of sight to the blind; beautiful body to the leper; feet to

the lame; wealth to the poor and son to an impotent mother.