There is a disease called Chechak (चेचक, Chickenpox); when this disease spreads in Indian villages, people say that Mata is coming (माता आ रही है ) — though they look for medical help, but also worship a goddess called Sheetala Mata. I’ve seen many people with Chechak marks on their faces, perhaps Sheetala Mata wasn’t happy with them.
This festival of Sheetala Mata is celebrated on Vaisakh Vadi Ashtami, ‘coz people know when the goddess is happy, they can’t get this problem called Chickenpox. This day they worship Ma Sheetala by offering many things like flowers, chandan, and sweets made of rice. Some people also have a Vrat (fasting).
Sheetala mata works like a doctor, when she is pleased not only Chechak but many other diseases can’t touch to her devotees. Apart from worshiping her this day, she should be worshiped on major festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Chhat; ‘coz when you worship her in your good times then there is no need to worship her in bad times.
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