Sheetla Mata Temple, Gurgaon, Haryana India

One of the major Hindu pilgrimage is the Shri Sheetla Devi Temple located near a pond at Gurgaon village, a suburb of Guru Dronacharya's birth place, in the state of Haryana. The temple is thronged by devotees in large numbers throughout the year. Also referred to as a 'Shakti Peeth', the presiding deity of this temple is Shri Mata Sheetla Devi.

There are many legends, which are connected with the building of the present temple of Shri Mata Sheetla Devi. According to one legend, a poor carpenter living in Farukh Nagar had a beautiful daughter of marriageable age. On hearing about her beauty, the Mughal ruler expressed his desire to get married to the girl. The carpenter resented giving away her daughter to a person from a different religion and so appealed to King Surajmal of Bharatpur. The matter being outside his jurisdiction, the king refused to interfere. The disappointed carpenter met Prince Bharatpur, son of King Surajmal while returning home who tried to talk it out with his father but to no avail.Consequently, the prince revolted against his father. On his way to attack Delhi, he passed through Gurgaon and he pledged to the Shri  Mata Sheetla Devi that if he returned victorious, he would build a proper temple. The prince won and upon his return, he built the temple. There is another version of the same temple. It is said that when prince of Bharatpur was proceeding towards , he and his army rested at Ballabhgarh.

But the horses refused to move further from here. The court astrologer was summoned to explain the strange behaviour of the horses, whereupon it was found that since obeisance was not paid the goddess after entering Gurgaon on their way, this had angered her. Thus an elaborate worship of the goddess was arranged and the horses started moving. The prince pledged that he would build a temple on his victorious return.

Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple during the Hindu month of Chaitra corresponding with the months of March and April. The place resembles a Kumbh-Mela. There is a heavy rush of pilgrims especially on Mondays of this month Situated near a pond, this temple witnesses hordes of pilgrims throughout the year, except during the month of Shravana (August & September).

People also come to this temple to conduct the 'mundan' (shaving off the heads) ceremony of their childern.