The Shashthi Puja (Sashti or Shasti) is performed primarily for the welfare of children in Bengal Hindu tradition. For the well-being of the family, Goddess Shashthi is imagined as the eternal Mother. Women observe fasts in her honour and only after listening to the vratha katha do they take the sacred offerings.
Each of the twelve monthly Shashthis is performed on the
sixth lunar day (Sashti tithi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla paksha). And
they are observed even when there is no separate formal Shasthi festival in
that month.
The Names Of Twelve Monthly Shashthis In Bengal:
- Baishakh: Dhula Shashti or Chandani Shashthi
- Jyaistha: Jamai Shashthi or Aranya Shashthi
- Ashadh: Shankh or Palank Shashthi
- Shravan: Lunthan or Lotan Shashthi
- Bhadra: Jhinge, Chapra or Manthan Shashthi
- Ashwin: Durga Shashti or Bodhan Shashti
- Kartik: Jamdani or Kusha Shashthi
- Agrahayan: Mula Shashthi
- Paush: Patai Shashthi
- Magh: Sheetla Shashti
- Phalgun: Ashoka Shashthi
- Chaitra: Buri Shashti or Nil Shashti
Each Shashthi vow centres around the story of a child.