Goddess Saraswati is considered the goddess of knowledge, art and music. Mother Saraswati is worshiped especially all over India on the day of Saraswati Puja. Whereas in Bengali society, Sheetala Shashthi is celebrated after Saraswati Puja or Basant Panchami. On this day, there is a rule in Bengali families to boil and eat 6 types of vegetables together. This food is cooked for Shitala Shashthi on the day of Saraswati Puja i.e. Basant Panchami, after which it is cooled and eaten stale the next day. Know the reason behind this old tradition.
Shitala Shashthi Puja?
Let us tell you that Shashthi Mata is worshiped by Bengali mothers especially to seek the blessings of Goddess Shashthi, the goddess who protects children and childbirth, for their children. Hot food is not consumed in homes on this day. On this day, only specific types of cold dishes prepared the night before are consumed.
stove does not light
According to the information, in most of the Bengali families, even the stove is not lit on that day. Even on Silbatta nothing gets crushed. On this day, along with rituals in the morning, sealed Lodha (Silbatte) and stove are also worshiped in homes. According to beliefs, since this is Sheetal Shashthi, there is a rule to consume cold food cooked a day before and not hot food. Six types of seasonal vegetables are boiled together and eaten. It is called Gota Seedha in Bengali language. Whoever observes a fast in the family, makes Sejano. Apart from this, in many houses, a mixture of 9 types of pulses and vegetables (Sijano) and cold rice are offered to Mata Sheetal Shashthi. After that the whole family consumes this food. There is a tradition of eating and feeding Sejano in this festival.
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scientific reasons
There is also a scientific reason behind eating stale food. During this season, diseases like smallpox, infection and influenza occur, so to keep the body cool, it is eaten boiled whole. Doctors also call this food comfort food. Let us tell you that the way of celebrating Sejano is different in different regions. Some people cook fish in Sejano, while some people prepare vegetarian food in this puja. Like basically people mix potatoes, beans, brinjal, spinach, horseradish and raw moong dal and boil them together.