Mysore/Mysuru: All the ladies from Rajasthani community performed ‘Sheetala Puja‘ at Bisilu Maramma Temple in Janatha Nagar here recently.

This is a special puja performed by Rajasthani community ladies, to make the Goddess cool. Basoda Puja is dedicated to Goddess Sheetala and celebrated on Krishna Paksha Ashtami after Holi.

Basoda is also known as Sheetala Ashtami. Usually it falls after eight days of Holi but many people observe it on first Monday or Thursday after Holi. Sheetala Ashtami is more popular in North Indian States like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

According to Basoda customs, families do not light fire for cooking. Hence, most families cook one day before and consume stale food on Sheetala Ashtami Day.

It is believed that Goddess Sheetala controls smallpox, chickenpox, measles, etc. and people worship Her to ward off any outbreak of those diseases.

This Puja was performed specially by singing Goddess songs, performing Panchamruta abhishek. —R. Narendar