Today is Basoda Puja, know why stale food is offered to Mata Shitala and what is the auspicious time:

New Delhi/Spiritual Desk: In Sanatan Dharma, Ashtami Tithi of Krishna Paksha of Chaitra month has special significance, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country by the name of ‘Shitala Ashtami’ or ‘Basauda Puja’. Today i.e. on March 11, 2026, mothers are doing special worship of Mata Sheetala for the long life of their children and to keep them safe from infectious diseases. According to beliefs, on this day the stove is not lit in the house and only stale dishes prepared a day before are offered to the Mother Goddess. Offering cold things as offerings on this festival, which symbolizes the arrival of summer, is considered a symbol of coolness and health.

Auspicious time and date

According to the calendar calculations, the Ashtami Tithi of Chaitra Krishna Paksha has started at 1:55 am on March 10, which will continue till 4:20 am on March 12. Based on the calculation of Udaya Tithi, the fast and worship of Sheetala Ashtami is being done today itself on 11th March. There are many auspicious Choghadiya Muhurat available in the morning for worship. Today morning there will be Choghadiya of ‘Labh’ from 6:35 to 8:04 am, while Shrestha Choghadiya of ‘Amrit’ will be from 8:04 to 9:33 am. After this, it will be beneficial to worship ‘Shubh’ from 11:02 to 12:31 in the afternoon and again in the Choghadiya of ‘Labh’ from 4:58 to 6:27 in the evening.

Why is stale food offered?

The biggest feature of Sheetala Ashtami is its ‘stale food’ i.e. Basoda. According to tradition, on the night of Saptami itself, sweet rice (oliya), pura, curd, rabri and rotis cooked in jaggery or sugarcane juice are prepared. Lighting the stove is prohibited on the morning of Ashtami. From a scientific point of view, this tradition is also seen to be linked to the change of seasons, where consumption of cold things prepares the body to bear the heat. After bathing the mother with cold water and raw milk, these dishes are offered and finally the family members accept this stale food as Prasad.

Special worship method of Sheetala Mata

This morning, after waking up in Brahma Muhurta and taking bath, the fasting person should chant the mantra ‘Om Hreem Shreem Shitalayai Namah’. During the puja, the goddess is anointed with a mixture of water and raw milk. Keep in mind that lamps or incense sticks are not lit in the worship of Mata Shitala, because the Mata is kept away from fire and heat. At the end of the puja, a prayer is made to the Mother Goddess that “O Mother Sheetala, just as you yourself are cool, similarly provide coolness and health to the lives of our family and children.” Applying curd or sandalwood tilak on the forehead of children is also considered auspicious on this day.

Mythological story: When the mother was pleased at the mercy of the potter

According to mythology, once Mata Shitala came to earth for a visit. While passing through the streets of the village, someone threw hot water of boiled rice on her, due to which blisters formed on the mother’s body and she started having unbearable burning sensation. He sought help in the entire village, but no one helped him. At last a poor potter saw the mother’s plight and fed her cold stale bread and curd. Due to the effect of cold food, the mother’s jealousy subsided and she became happy and gave darshan of her divine form to the potter. Mother removed his poverty and gave a boon that whoever offers cold food to her on this day, there will never be shortage of food, money and health in his house.