He further notes that the fact that Santoshi Mata expected the inexpensive raw sugar and roasted chickpeas—associated with the "non-elite"—as offerings in her vrata and her benevolent nature made her popular with the masses. However, Das considers the film was instrumental in spreading the Santoshi Mata worship to the illiterate, who until then could not have known the written "vrata katha" (legend related to the vrata). Even though the script of "Jai Santoshi Maa" has no scriptural basis, scholars Anita Raina Thapan and Lawrence Cohen cite Santoshi Mata's cult as evidence of Ganesha's continuing evolution as a popular deity. The "Santoshi Mata vrata" or devotional fast is to be observed on 16 successive Fridays or until one's wish is fulfilled. The devotee should perform a "puja" (worship) of Santoshi Mata and offer her flowers, incense and a bowl of raw sugar and roasted chickpeas ("gur-chana"). The devotee wakes up at early morning, remembering the Goddess. Only one meal is taken during the fast day, and devotees avoid eating bitter or sour food and serving these to others, as sour or bitter food is somewhat addictive and hinders satisfaction. When the wish is granted, a devotee must then organise a "udyapan" ("bringing to conclusion") ceremony, where eight girls are to be served as a festive meal. In this type of worship, the devotee has to follow other strictures such as avoiding quarrels and hurting anyone. By means of this vrata one can live with harmony because the bad habits in human life like to ignore faith and to say false, to behave arrogantly can be removed. This vrata teaches the devotee to spread love, sympathy and happiness. Temples  There are many temples all over India and abroad where Principal deity is Mata Santoshi. North India : Harinagar,Delhi (NCR)  South India: Jai Nagar,Trichy (Tamil Nadu)  East India: Chakradharpur (Jharkhand)  West India: Lall Sagar,Jodhpur (Rajasthan),   Unlike other Indian mythological films which were based on the Hindu epics or the Puranic scriptures, "Jai Santoshi Maa" was based on a popular pamphlet about the "vrata katha" (legend of the ritual fast) of Santoshi Mata's Friday vrata.