Neel Shashti is a deeply rooted tradition in Bengal where mothers observe a strict waterless fast for the longevity and prosperity of their children. In 2026, Neel Shashti falls on Monday, April 13 (29th Chaitra), just a day before the Chaitra Sankranti and Charak Puja.

The festival is backed by several legends, most notably the union of Lord Shiva and Nilavati. Another popular folk tale tells of an elderly Brahmin couple who saved their children from untimely death by following the instructions of Goddess Shashti to worship Lord Shiva on this specific day. Rituals involve bathing the Shiva Lingam with milk, ghee, and Ganges water in the evening, followed by lighting lamps for the child’s welfare. Dietary rules are strict; rice-based meals are forbidden, and only fruits or non-cereal items prepared with rock salt (Saindhava Lavana) are consumed after the fast.