Sheetala Ashtami 2026: Date, Basoda Puja and Health Protection

The observance of Sheetala Ashtami 2026 that follows soon after Holi carries a quiet yet powerful message of health, coolness and maternal grace. This day is linked not only with ritual worship but also with the wellbeing of children, the purification of surroundings and a simpler, more disciplined way of living.

In the year 2026 Sheetala Ashtami will be observed on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, on the Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Chaitra. Sheetala Ashtami generally falls around the eighth day after Holi and is regarded as a special pause that turns attention from celebration towards protection and peace. From early morning until much of the day it is considered auspicious to worship Sheetala Mata and to follow the Basoda rules.

Sheetala Ashtami 2026: date and calendar context

Knowing the date of Sheetala Ashtami and its place in the sequence after Holi helps devotees arrange vrat and Puja properly.

When is Sheetala Ashtami 2026

Sheetala Ashtami is observed every year on Chaitra Krishna Ashtami. This is the eighth lunar day in the dark fortnight following Holi. In 2026

• Sheetala Ashtami will fall on 11 March 2026, Wednesday.
• In the Hindu calendar it corresponds to Chaitra Krishna Ashtami.
• In common understanding it is counted as roughly the eighth day after Holi.

On the previous day, Saptami, families prepare food in advance, since cooking is avoided on Ashtami itself.

Key points about Sheetala Ashtami 2026

Detail	Information
Festival	Sheetala Ashtami 2026
Date	11 March 2026, Wednesday
Month and phase	Chaitra month, Krishna Paksha Ashtami
Linked observance	Basoda, pre cooked food rule
Related festivals	Sheetala Saptami, post Holi observances

Although the exact span of Ashtami Tithi may stretch across night and the following day, 11 March is taken as the main day for Sheetala Ashtami worship.

What is Sheetala Ashtami and how is it linked with Basoda

To whom is Sheetala Ashtami dedicated

Sheetala Ashtami is entirely dedicated to the worship of Sheetala Mata. She is honoured as

• the guardian of children and family health,
• and the controller of infectious diseases such as smallpox, measles and chickenpox.

Beliefs hold that

• the Goddess can allow outbreaks when dharma and cleanliness are ignored,
• and she can also cool and heal those same diseases through her soothing grace.

For this reason devotees perform vrat, Puja and story recitation on this day to seek protection, especially for the younger members of the family.

Why is Basoda Puja performed on Sheetala Ashtami

The well known Basoda Puja is closely associated with Sheetala Ashtami.

• Basoda literally refers to food prepared on the previous day and eaten without fresh cooking.
• On this day lighting the stove or cooking new food is avoided.
• Meals are cooked on Saptami and kept carefully so that on Ashtami only cold, previously prepared food is offered to the Goddess and then eaten as Prasad.

This tradition

• reduces the use of fire for a day,
• gives the body and environment a kind of rest,
• and reminds people of hygiene and food discipline that can help lower the spread of infectious diseases.

Thus Basoda Puja can be seen as a combined message of devotion, health awareness and restraint.

What is the importance of Sheetala Ashtami

Sheetala Mata as controller of diseases

In traditional understanding Sheetala Mata is connected with diseases such as

• smallpox,
• measles,
• chickenpox.

She is regarded as

• the presiding power over these illnesses,
• and at the same time the compassionate Mother who can remove them through her cooling presence.

It is believed that when devotees

• observe Sheetala Ashtami with sincerity,
• follow the rules around food and cleanliness,
• and pray for the protection of children and family,

the grace of the Goddess helps reduce the intensity of outbreaks and brings health and calm into the home.

Symbolic form of Sheetala Mata

In her traditional iconography

• Sheetala Mata rides on a donkey,
• and holds in her four hands
  • a broom,
  • a kalash of holy water,
  • neem leaves,
  • and a pan or container for gathering dirt.

These symbols show that

• with the broom and pan she sweeps away germs and impurities,
• neem leaves represent herbal protection and purification,
• the water in the kalash signifies cooling, healing energy.

Through this form the Goddess teaches that

• cleanliness,
• herbal wisdom,
• and soothing care

are all essential in protecting communities from disease.

Main rules of Sheetala Ashtami and preparations for Basoda

Why is fire not used on Sheetala Ashtami

According to belief

• using fire to cook on Sheetala Ashtami can displease the Goddess,
• as intense heat is associated with fever and inflammation, while Sheetala Mata embodies coolness.

Therefore

• food is prepared on the previous day,
• and on Ashtami devotees avoid lighting the stove or oven.

The rule serves as a reminder

• to avoid excess heat and heaviness in diet,
• and to pay attention to public health during seasons when infections tend to spread.

How is Basoda food prepared

On the day before Sheetala Ashtami, usually on Saptami,

• women of the household prepare meals such as
  • puri, roti, kadhi, vegetables,
  • sweets, curd, rabri, jaggery,
  • rice and other dishes,

and store them safely.

On Ashtami

• these foods are arranged as Bhog for Sheetala Mata,
• a portion is offered to the Goddess,
• and the rest is eaten by family members as Prasad through the day.

In many homes

• part of this food is distributed among the poor and needy,
  linking the vrat with charity and compassion.

How to perform Sheetala Ashtami Puja in 2026

Puja method for Sheetala Ashtami

The worship of Sheetala Mata is simple in form but firm in discipline and intention.

Stepwise Puja process for Sheetala Ashtami 2026

Step	What is done
Step 1	Prepare and store food on the previous day, keeping it covered
Step 2	On Ashtami, bathe before sunrise, preferably with cool water
Step 3	Visit Sheetala Mata temple or worship her image at home
Step 4	Offer water, roli, turmeric, Akshata, neem leaves and cloth
Step 5	Place curd, rabri, jaggery and pre cooked food as Bhog
Step 6	Recite or listen to **Sheetalashtak** or the Sheetala Ashtami Vrat Katha
Step 7	Receive blessings from elders and partake of the cold Prasad

Recitation of Sheetalashtak

On Sheetala Ashtami devotees often recite “Sheetalashtak”, a hymn that

• praises the greatness of Sheetala Mata,
• seeks her help in removing disease,
• and prays for the wellbeing of children and family.

The essence of Sheetalashtak is that

• one who remembers the Goddess with devotion and faith,
• and keeps her in mind through prayer and discipline,

receives her blessings in the form of health, relief from pain and peace at home.

Other important practices on Sheetala Ashtami

Cold bath and temple visit

On this day

• devotees bathe in cool or normal water early in the morning,
• then visit temples of Sheetala Mata.

In the temple

• water, grass, neem leaves, rice and Kumkum are offered to the deity,
• special prayers are made in the names of children,

because Sheetala Mata is regarded as a special protector of the young.

Blessings from elders and charity

After Puja

• younger family members bow to elders and seek their blessings,
• the food offered to the Goddess is eaten through the day as sacred Prasad,
• many households also share part of the food with the poor, monks or needy people.

In this way the vrat unites

• devotion, family respect and charity
  within one observance.

Fasting and release from negative energies

Many devotees

• observe a fast, either taking only a little Prasad or very light food,
• and inwardly ask for freedom from disease as well as from negative thoughts and heaviness.

Before the Goddess they resolve

• to maintain better hygiene,
• to live with more moderation and awareness,
• and to protect both physical and mental health in daily life.

Inner guidance from Sheetala Ashtami 2026

If Sheetala Ashtami 2026 is seen not only as a date but as a festival of health, cleanliness and cooling balance, it can bring practical transformation.

This day reminds that

• disciplined food habits,
• mindful use of fire and heat,
• care for hygiene and gratitude towards the healing forces of nature

all play a role in safeguarding families from illness.

Families that observe Sheetala Ashtami 2026

• with Basoda rules, Puja, charity and humility

may find that this day becomes a lasting symbol of motherly protection, wellbeing and inner coolness.

Common questions

When will Sheetala Ashtami be observed in 2026 and how is it related to Holi
Sheetala Ashtami in 2026 will be observed on Wednesday, 11 March 2026 on Chaitra Krishna Ashtami. It falls a few days after Holi and is generally counted as the eighth day in that sequence, turning attention from celebration towards health and protection.

What are the main Basoda rules and why is food prepared one day earlier
On Sheetala Ashtami the stove is not lit and no fresh food is cooked. Meals are prepared on the previous day and eaten cold after being offered to the Goddess. This honours the cool nature of Sheetala Mata and encourages moderation and care in diet during periods when disease can spread.

How is Sheetala Mata depicted and what message does her form convey
Sheetala Mata is depicted riding a donkey, holding a broom, a kalash of holy water, neem leaves and a pan. The broom and pan symbolise the sweeping away of germs, neem stands for herbal healing and the kalash represents cooling, purifying energy, emphasising cleanliness and health.

What are the main rituals observed on Sheetala Ashtami
Key practices include bathing in cool water, visiting Sheetala temples or worshipping at home, offering water, Kumkum, neem and pre cooked food as Bhog, reciting Sheetalashtak or the Vrat Katha, taking elders’ blessings and eating the cold Prasad throughout the day. Many also share this food with the poor.

What kind of inner change can a devotee aim for through Sheetala Ashtami 2026
By treating the vrat as a commitment to cleanliness, moderation and peace of mind, a devotee can become more aware of health, habits and environment. In this way Sheetala Ashtami 2026 can support a shift toward simpler living, better hygiene and deeper trust in maternal grace.