Sharad Purnima 2024: The Significance of Kheer Under the Moonlight
Sharad Purnima 2024 celebrates the full moon with Kheer rituals, symbolizing blessings. Lunar eclipses require special observances.
Sharad Purnima 2024: Understanding the Significance of Kheer Under Moonlight and Its Rituals During Lunar Eclipses
A well-known festival associated with Hindu culture, the Sharad Purnima is to be celebrated on October 16, 2024, as it celebrates the full moon night of the Ashwin month. This fair is in honour of Lord Chandra who is known as the Moon God and the devotees come to seek his blessings for health, wealth and happiness. Another tradition the people have about Sharad Purnima is the preparation of Kheer which is a sweet dish, rice pudding that is left to be under the moonlight the whole night.
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The Ritual of Kheer: Why Moonlight Matters: The full moon during Sharad Purnima is considered to emit the sixteen Kalas or qualities of the perfect mankind. On this night people think that the light of the moon carries divine and healing quality to it. This is why Kheer is placed under the moonlight to collect these positive energies, making the dish to become what is considered sacred food that can be used to heal and bless individuals. This is an ancient practice that stems from the fact that the moon has a way of disinfecting the Kheer thereby making it a magical food for the soul.
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Observing Sharad Purnima During a Lunar Eclipse: Sometimes, Sharad Purnima also falls during the festival of lunar eclipses called Chandra Grahan. During such occasions, practitioners are in a fix about how to observe the Sutak period, when cooking and eating are restricted to a large extent. Some religious authorities warn that Kheer should not be prepared or left outside during the eclipse as the rays of the moon can become polluted.
To navigate this situation, devotees can take specific steps:
- Before the Sutak: Soak Kusha grass in cow’s milk and keep the mixture in a place where it can be protected from the moonlight which has experienced an eclipse.
- Post-Eclipse: Post eclipsing the kheer, please clean yourself and ready Kheer for consumption.
- Under the Moonlight: Let the Kheer sit and soak the rest of the moonlight for the next day.
- Prasad Sharing: The next day the Kheer can be given to the family to eat and should be preserved in order to retain its divine aspects.
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Celebrating Kojagara Puja: In regions like West Bengal, Sharad Purnima is also celebrated as Kojagara Puja, dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Devotees engage in night-long worship and festivities, including games like Chausar. If a lunar eclipse occurs, these activities are paused during the Sutak period, maintaining the sanctity of the rituals. Temples are closed during this time, and worship resumes only after the eclipse concludes.
Sharad Purnima is a festival rich in spiritual meaning, encapsulated by the unique Kheer ritual that symbolizes purity and divine grace. Even when faced with the complexities of a lunar eclipse, the essence of this festival remains intact through the adherence to traditional customs, allowing devotees to invite prosperity and happiness into their lives.
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