Prayagraj: The three-day annual fair on Sheetla Ashtami at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kalyani Devi Temple, located in the Kalyani Devi area of the city, will begin on Tuesday.Chief priest, Shyam Ji Pathak, told TOI: “It is the oldest fair in Prayagraj. This year, the three-day fair will be held from March 10 to 12, and the main fair will take place on Wednesday, on the day of Ashtami, which is also known as Basiaura Ashtami.” Pathak claimed that this fair has been going on for more than 150 years and also finds mention in the Gazette Yearbooks of the British era. He explained the fair lasts from Chaitra Krishna Paksha Saptami to Navami. It is believed that mothers observe a fast on saptami for the health, well-being and longevity of their sons. The offering (bhog)– “nevaj” (halwa and puri)– is prepared in houses. The following day, on Ashtami, this “stale” (basi) food is offered to the Goddess as bhog and then consumed by the family within the temple premises. This is why it is called Sheetla Ashtami (as no fresh food is cooked in homes on this day). Around one lakh devotees from the city and rural areas visit the temple on Ashtami. The fair also spans a one-kilometre radius, featuring various cultural programmes like Nautanki, Birha and Fagua throughout the night. Devotees (Nishan Bhakt) arrive in groups from neighbourhoods with drums, bands and horses to offer flags (dhwaja) to the Goddess.
