Devotees gathered at the Triveni Sangam to take a holy dip and offer prayers on Tuesday, commemorating Sheetala Ashtami. Sabyasachi Tiwari, a devotee from Prayagraj, shared the significance of the day, recounting the folklore associated with it. He explained, “Today is Sheetala Ashtami, celebrated on the 8th day of Holi. According to popular lore, Goddess Sheetala and the demon Jurasur, born from Lord Shiva’s sweat, once sought refuge with King Virat. However, the king refused, angering Goddess Sheetala, who then afflicted the king’s subjects with red spots and a burning sensation. After the king apologized and offered raw milk and cold buttermilk, her anger subsided, and the spots, now known as chickenpox, disappeared.” Tiwari added, “On this day, we worship Goddess Sheetala and offer cold offerings to appease her. That’s why we take a dip in the Ganges today, considering it a privilege to perform these rituals.”
Sheetala Ashtami, also known as Basoda, is a festival widely celebrated in North India. It falls on the eighth day of the waning moon, or Krishna Paksha, in the Hindu month of Chaitra, eight days after Holi, which was celebrated on March 25 this year. Deepika Singh, another devotee from Prayagraj, highlighted the importance of the Ganges dip on Sheetala Ashtami, stating, “We are from Prayagraj, here to take a dip in the Ganges. Today is Sheetala Ashtami, an auspicious day for fulfilling our wishes. We believe this dip will bring us happiness and good fortune.” Radha Devi, expressing her reverence for Mother Ganga and the spiritual significance of the day, shared her experience, saying, “I came for a darshan of Mother Ganga, offered prayers, and took a holy dip.”
