English meaning of the festival
Randhan Chat means “cooking on the sixth day”. The day is meant for preparing food (Randhan) for the next day, which is Shitla Satam. Since the day is important for cooking, the festival has its name “Randhan Chat,” which means “cooking on the sixth day”. The day is dedicated to preparing food for Goddess Shitla. No food is cooked on Shitla Satam (the next day). People only eat what is prepared on Randhan Chat day.
How the date is decided annually?
Randhan Chat is observed a day before Shitla Stam. It is the sixth day of the month of Shravan (Krishna Paksha in Gujarat, but Shukla Paksha in Norther India).
Significance of the festival to Hinduism
This festival is dedicated to preparing food for Goddess Shitla. All food for the day has to be prepared before the Chat tithi ends. No food should be cooked the next day. The hearth (cooking spot) should be left cool as Mata visits and bathes in the ash.
How to observe/practice
Food items that are prepared on the day are those that will stay for 24 hours. All women in the family participate in the cooking. Some people opt for spicy and fried food. After the cooking on Randhan Chat, the earthen hearth is cleaned using cow dung. The ash remains in the hearth. A cotton sapling is planted in the hearth. Some curd is then placed in the cooking spot. There is a widespread belief that Goddess Shitla Mata resides in the ash, and she will roll on the ash and will bless the household.
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