Neel Shasthi: Child auspiciousness, rituals and worship of Shiva and Shasthi Devi

Various vows are celebrated in Bengal in twelve months. Basically women observe the vow for the welfare of the world. One of the most popular vows in Bengal is Neel Shasti. This vow is observed for the well-being of the child.

"Light through the blue room

Drink water, daughter."

Blue is blue voice i.e. Shiva. Neel Puja is performed on the day before Chaitra Sankranti. According to mythology, Neel Puja is the marriage ceremony of Nilavati and Shiva. According to folklore, after Sati abdicated in Dakshayagna, she returned to Niladhwaja King's Villaban. Then the king named her Neelchandika or Nilavati. He nurtured Nilavati as his own daughter. When Nilavati became marriageable, King Niladhwaja arranged her marriage with Mahadev. Nilavati seduced Shiva in the living room and later died in the form of a fly by throwing herself into the water with flowers. Neel Puja is the marriage ceremony of Nilavati and Shiva. However, apart from this myth, there is another story according to folklore. Even if a child was born to a Brahmin-Brahmin, none of them lived long. After the untimely death of one child after another, they were overwhelmed with grief. One day the two were sitting on the Ganga Ghat in Kashidham and lamenting their grief. At that time Ma Shasthi appeared there in the guise of an old Brahmin and demanded to know the reason for their lamentation. When the Brahmin-Brahmins told their sorrows to the old Brahmin-looking mother Shasthi, Ma Shasthi asked them to observe the vow of Neel Shasthi. On the day before Chaitra Sankranti, he fasted the whole day and in the evening lighted a lamp in front of Neel i.e. Shiva and instructed Ma Shasthi to break the fast by bowing down. According to Ma Shasthi, the Brahmin Brahmin observes the Nilasashti vow and gets a child.

Due to its association with Neel Puja, the wish for the well-being of children and long life, the popularity of this vow is immense. Neel Puja or Neel Shasthi Vrat is a festival for mothers in rural Bengal. Ma Shashti is another physical form of Maa Durga. Variations in the observance of this vow can be observed from region to region. But mothers everywhere observe this vow on this day to wish their children a long life.