Shitala Ashtami 2025 video featuring traditional worship, temple celebrations, and devotees offering prayers to Goddess Shitala.

Posted on March 19, 2025

Shitala Ashtami 2025: Date, Puja Vidhi, Significance & Celebration

Written by : badhaaido

Category: Shitala Ashtami: Rituals and Beliefs

Sheetala Ashtami, also known as Basoda, is an important Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Sheetala. It is observed on the Ashtami of Krishna Paksha in the Chaitra month, typically falling in March or April. In 2025, Sheetala Ashtami will be observed on Saturday, March 22. This day is considered highly auspicious for worshipping Goddess Sheetala, as it is believed to bring relief from diseases and impurities.

The festival is particularly significant in North Indian states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. While it is traditionally observed eight days after Holi, some devotees choose to celebrate it on the first Monday or Friday after Holi. Devotees offer prayers and follow rituals to seek the blessings of Goddess Sheetala for health and protection.

Rituals and Traditions of Shitala Ashtami

One of the unique customs of Shitala Ashtami is the practice of not lighting a fire for cooking. Devotees prepare food a day in advance and consume stale (cold) food on this day. This tradition is rooted in the belief that Goddess Sheetala protects people from diseases like smallpox, chickenpox, and measles. Worshipping her is thought to prevent the spread of these ailments and bring good health.

“Goddess Shitala is the destroyer of diseases; her worship purifies both body and soul"

Sheetala Ashtami 2025: Shubh Muhurat

According to the Hindu calendar, the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month will start on March 22, 2025 at 04:23 am and will end on March 23, 2025 at 05:23 am.

According to the Udaya Tithi, this year the Sheetala Ashtami fast will be observed on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The fast will be observed the next day, on March 23, after the morning puja-paath.

Why eat stale food on Sheetala Ashtami?

According to religious beliefs and mythology, there is a tradition of offering stale food on Sheetala Ashtami, which is also called Basoda or Basiaura.

This day is considered a symbol of the end of winter.

It is believed that offering stale food to Mother Sheetala on this day protects from diseases and maintains happiness and peace in the house.

Also, devotees should also accept stale food as prasad.

Prepare food keeping in mind purity a day before the fast and offer this food to Mother Sheetala on the day of Sheetala Ashtami.

After this, take it yourself as prasad. By doing this, Mother Sheetala is pleased.

She blesses the devotees to remain healthy and fulfills all their wishes.

Sheetala Ashtami 2025: Puja Vidhi (Sheetala Ashtami Puja Vidhi)

On the day of Sheetala Ashtami, wake up early in the morning, take a bath and wear clean clothes and take a vow to fast.

Keep sweet rice, halwa, lamp, roli, akshat, clothes, garland of badkule, coins and turmeric etc. in the puja plate.

After this, offer the fasting material to Sheetala Mata, recite the story of Sheetala Ashtami and complete the puja by performing aarti.

Create customized Shitala Ashtami greetings on Badhaai Do and share divine blessings with your friends and family. Express your devotion to Goddess Shitala with beautifully designed wishes and messages.

🙏 Start Creating Now! 👉 Badhaai Do