Shitalasasthi (also known as Sital sasthi) is a significant festival that celebrates the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is primarily observed by the Utkal Brahmins (commonly referred to as Odia Brahmins) and Aranyaka Brahmins (also known as Jhadua Brahmins). The festival has been celebrated for centuries and has its origins in Sambalpur, Odisha. It is believed to have begun around 400 years ago when the King of Sambalpur invited Utkal Srotriya Vaidika Brahmins from the Brahmin sasana villages of Puri district. The Brahmin community of Nandapada, considered one of the oldest groups, initiated the Sitalsasti Utsav.

The festival is a vibrant carnival, featuring participation from people and artists from various walks of life, which enhances its beauty and brings out the true spirit of celebration. Shitalasasthi is observed annually towards the end of the summer season, on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Jyestha. The purpose of the festival is to invoke the rain gods, providing relief from the intense summer heat. During the carnival period, Sambalpur attracts tourists from neighbouring states and even from abroad.

Sitalsasthi is celebrated to commemorate the marriage of Lord Parvati and Lord Shiva, as described in the Shiva Purana. According to the legend, when the demon Tarakasura was wreaking havoc across the three realms—Svarga (heaven), Martiya (earth), and Patala (underworld)—the gods approached Lord Vishnu for a solution. Vishnu was initially unable to help, as Bramha had granted a boon to Tarakasura, stating that only the son of Shiva could kill him.

Tarakasura, knowing that Shiva had withdrawn from the world after the death of his first wife, Sati, and was living a life of austerity in the wilderness, believed that Shiva would never father a child. Moreover, Shiva was deeply immersed in meditation. To resolve this, Vishnu advised the gods to seek Shakti's intervention and request her to take birth as Parvati. Responding to the plea of the gods, Shakti reincarnated as Parvati (Sati), the daughter of the mountain king Himalaya, and grew into a beautiful young woman.

Narada, the sage, recounted many stories of Shiva to Parvati and encouraged her to seek his hand in marriage. Parvati then began meditating to win Shiva’s affection. However, despite her efforts, Shiva remained in deep meditation, and time passed without any change. Once again, the gods sought Vishnu’s assistance. Following Vishnu's suggestion, Kamadeva, the god of love, used his bow to shoot a love arrow at Shiva.

Shiva, disturbed from his meditation, opened his third eye in anger and burned Kamadeva to ashes as punishment. Kamadeva was thereafter transformed into Ananga, the formless one. Despite this, Parvati’s meditation was ultimately successful, leading to her union with Shiva.

Before marrying Parvati, Shiva wished to test her devotion and love for him. He incarnated as a short-statured Brahmin (known as Batu Brahmana) and approached Parvati with a challenge. Disguised in this form, he remarked, "O Parvati, you are young and beautiful, why would you choose to marry an old man who dwells in the smasana (graveyard), wears tree bark, and adorns himself with snakes? I know that you desire to marry Maheswara (Shiva), a half-naked, unattractive man, whose lineage and family are unknown. How could you ever find happiness with such a wandering ascetic?"

In response, Parvati became angered and retorted, "O Brahmana, despite studying so many shastras, you remain ignorant about Shiva. How foolish you are! I do not care whether he is old or young, ugly or handsome; I do not seek him for his outward appearance. I am drawn to him for his wisdom. I will accept no one else in marriage but him."