Introduction to Sheetala Ashtami:
Fairs and Festivals in Rajasthan have their own flavor and charm since they offer the guests a good opportunity to come close with the cultural and traditional aspects of this place of royal figures. Apart from the excellent and grand forts and palaces, majestic hills, captivating landscapes and wildlife sanctuaries, there are a lot of other things that Rajasthan has to offer and those things come in term of fairs and festivals. One of such festivals is the Sheetala Ashtami, Chakshu, Jaipur. With great fervor this festival is celebrated in a small hamlet of Chakshu which is located near Jaipur.
Time for celebration of Sheetala Ashtami:
Sheetala Ashtami in Chakshu Jaipur is celebrated during the spring season in the month of March. There is a lot of excitement and zeal aming the locals during this period.
Description of Sheetala Ashtami, Jaipur:
The festival of Sheetala Ashtami is celebrated with the belief that this would prevent them from the deadly epidemics. The local people of the village Chakshu pay obeisance to the goddess of small pox who is Sheetala Mata. The locals have a firm reverence for the goddess and they are of the view that by paying reverence to the goddess they will be immune to the hazards of the epidemics. There is a red stone that represents the deity of Sheetala Ashtami. The festival is celebrated with huge excitement and gusto and there is a market that is put up during the festival to celebrate the festival with a lot of items being on display where the devotees congregate. Indigenous shoes, food items, agricultural implements and food are the chief products that are being sold during the fair at the Sheetala Ashtami. There are lot of colorful attires and musical events that are organized in which the participants display their talent. There are also a lot of rituals and religious activities that are performed during the play. The tourists have a good time being here during the festival since they have a chance to observe the culture and tradition of the local people of the village from very close. They come and take the souvenirs that are also on display at the markets during the fair.