Rajasthan festivals are very colourful and joyful, some of
them commemorate religious or historical events or celebrations of
the changing of seasons. All fairs and festivals are celebrated by
the Hindus, Muslims and others by the different styles in all over
India. Some of the more important fairs and festivals are held at
Jaipur like the Gangaur Festival, Elephant Festival, Teej Festival,
but Shitla Ashtmi is a very famous festival, popularly known as the
Basoda.
The Shitla Mela is celebrated in March-April, during every year the
Hindu Month of Chaitra on Krishna Paksh. At Jaipur, Seel-Ki-Doongri,
a small village, is a hillock on top which stands the shrine of
Sheetla Mata.
On this occasion, women do not enter their kitchen and consume the
goodies prepared the previous evening. The festival is also used for
trading and selling in wares such as shoes, clothes, foodstuff,
utensils and agricultural implements. A cattle fair is also
organised during the fair.
