Shitala Temple

In the spiritual capital of India, that is, Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, lies the Shitala Temple. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Shitala, who is known to cure a number of diseases like smallpox and chickenpox, among the committed Hindu devotees. The temple is one of the most beautiful ones in Varanasi and you would only require thirty minutes to completely see the whole temple. If you are planning to go there, then the perfect address to the temple is- Shitala Ghat, Near Bundi Parkota Ghat, Maidagin, Ghasi Tola, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Traveler Tips

While entering the temple, there are some tips or rather etiquettes, you are ought to follow. The first tip is to always remove footwear before entering the temple. It is a holy place, that’s why it is very important to remove your footwear. The next one is to avoid wearing leather and short clothes. The environment in the temple is very conservative-type, so the people there don’t like other devotees to wear such modern clothes. You can take a spare scarf to cover your naked shoulders and your head if necessary. The third one may sound weird but is very important i.e. to walk clockwise in the temple. Yes, you have to walk clockwise in the Shitala Temple, Varanasi. You are also requested not to carry your camera with you to capture the beautiful sights inside the temple.

History

Shitala Mata is a folk deity. It is believed that she is an incarnation of the goddess Durga. She is worshipped on the eighth day after Holi, also known as the festival of colors. There are many stories related to her life. One of them says that the goddess Durga incarnated as Katyayani, to destroy all the evil demonic forces of the world. There was a demon named Jwarasur, who was the demon of fever. He was known to have mischievously started spreading diseases like smallpox, chickenpox, dysentery, etc. This is when Katyayani Mata came down and cured all the diseases of her friends and then decided to free the world from these diseases by assuming the form of Shitala Mata.

Architecture

The look of the temple is simply outstanding. It is painted in red and white colors which gives the temple a holy and serene look. It is also decorated with lots of domes that make the temple exceptionally beautiful. The temple’s wall is also intricately sculpted with figures of various goddesses. The idols inside are very beautiful and when you greet them, it would feel like the real gods are there to give you the blessings.

Festival

If you are planning to visit the Shitala Mata temple in Varanasi, then Shitala Ashtami is the best festival to do so. Shitala Ashtami is one of the most auspicious festivals that is celebrated in India among Hindus. This festival is dedicated to the goddess Shitala. It is celebrated during the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar which starts after the onset of spring in mid- Mar to April according to the Gregorian calendar. This festival is also known as Basoda Puja. The temple is decorated during this festival and thousands of devotees flock to the temple area to seek the blessing of Shitala Mata during this festival.

Best Time To Visit

The temple is exceptionally crowded on Mondays as it is considered to be a sacred day. You can visit the temple during Shitala Ashtami as there are very beautiful celebrations happening inside the temple but beware temple will have a large crowd of devotees, so entry into the temple will be very difficult.

How To Reach

Varanasi is well connected by a good network of railways, roadways as well as airways.NH-7 connects Varanasi to Kanniyakumari and many more roads are there. There is a well-developed Varanasi railway station and there is also an international airport named Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur which is 26 kilometers from Varanasi. You can easily find taxis, cabs and even state-run buses and local transport options to reach here.

Nearby Attractions

Popular tourist attractions near Shitala Temple are Assi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Man Mandir Ghat, Lalita Ghat and many more. Now as you are in Varanasi, you can also visit the New Vishwanath Temple which is on the campus of BHU (Benaras Hindu University). You can plan a visit accordingly to the Shitala Temple, Varanasi to explore all the other tourist attractions in this ancient city and make the most of your visit.