The three century-old Sitala Puja at Chatra, Serampore till day adheres to its tradition.
According to folklore, there was an outbreak of smallpox epidemic. The people in distress then approached Sadak Ram Prasad. The saint, in his meditation, had a vision of goddess Sitala asking the saint to perform her puja with specified medicinal herbs to be distributed among the affected for quick recovery. The puja was performed and Neem and turmeric was offered as medicinal herbs to the affected. Soon, the epidemic came under control. From then on, the traditional Ma Sitala Puja has been performed till day at Chatra Serampore for four days and medicinal herbs are offered to the devotees as a preventive against the attack of smallpox. Since the intake of the herbs and the paste of the herbs applied on the skin provide a very soothing effect removing the pain and distress from smallpox, the goddesses got her name as Sitala Ma.
Till day devotees, from far and wide queue up to offer prayers and receive the medicinal herb.
Devotees said even in this world of science and technology, there is nothing above faith, belief and divinity.
The Serampore IMA president Dr Pradeep Das said, “In our religious scriptures the mention of different medical herbs and items with medical values are mentioned. What modern science has discovered now, thousands of years back it was well-known to our rishis and munis (saints and hermits). The use of neem and turmeric for small pox is very applicable since both have strong anti-bacterial and viral properties. They work wonderfully well in any kind of infection. Till day, the use of neem leaves, fresh turmeric and jaggery is used together to ward off seasonal ailments.