Basoda is an important festival in Hindu religion. Sheetla Ashtami is also known as 'Basoda Pooja'. Basoda Pooja is a popular festival dedicated to the Sheetla Mata. This festival is celebrated the Ashtami of the Krishna side of Chitra Month. Usually it falls after eight days of Holi but many people celebrate it first on Monday or Friday after Holi.
This festival of Basoda or Sheetla Ashtami is more popular in North Indian states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The festival of Sheetla Ashtami in Rajasthan state is celebrated with great joy. This opportunity is also organized by Fair and Folk Music programs. The devotee celebrates this festival with great joy and devotion. It is believed that keeping fast on this chosen day, they protect them from a variety of diseases.
According to Basoda rivaj, no food is made on this day. Therefore, most of the family cooks food a day before Ashtami and consume stale food. It is believed that Goddess controls the shepherpox, smallpox, measles etc. and people worship them to remove the outbreaks of those diseases.
On the day of Basoda or Sheeta Ashtami, the devotee baths before Sundey. The Sheetla Devi goes to the temple and worshiped Goddess with 'turmeric' and 'Bajra'. After worshiping the worship, they listen to 'Basoda Vrat Katha'. After this, Devi Shela is replaced 'Rabri', 'curd' and other essential offerings. People also take blessings of their elders.