Sheetala Asthami, as the name itself indicates, is observed on the eighth day of the bright half of Chaitra (March-April) in the honour of goddess Sheetala. She is the goddess of smallpox and her blessings are invoked for protection against this evil. Sheetala is depicted as roaming in the countryside, riding an ass. She is to be identified with Devi or Durga in her role as goddess of smallpox. On this day, which is either on Monday or Friday, the women folk visit the shrine of Sheetala in the morning, after ablutions, and offerings of rice, home made sweets, cooked food and holy water mixed with milk. At several places colourful fairs are held on this occasion near the shrine of Sheetala and there is a lot of merry making, songs, dance, feasting and brisk buying and selling.