The day marks the Sharad Purnima festival. It is a Hindu festival, celebrated on the full-moon night of the Ashvin month. The day is also known as Sharad Poonam, Raas Purnima and Ashwin Purnima. The Hindu devotees worship Lakshmi on this day to seek her blessings and even the Moon is prayed to on this day. Sharad Purnima is considered to be positive and auspicious energy. Fasting is also observed by the devotees on this day.
Sharad Purnima falls on October 16, 2024. According to Drik Panchang, the Purnima Tithi starts at 08:40 PM on October 16, 2024 and ends at 04:55 PM on October 17, 2024. On October 16, the moonrise is at 5:05 PM. According to the Vedic astrology, Sharad Purnima is considered a holy day as this is the only day in the entire year when the moon rises and shines with all sixteen Kala(s).
In Hinduism, it is believed that each Kala is associated with a unique human quality, and the union of these sixteen Kalas is deemed to form an ideal human personality. Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was born with all sixteen kalas, while Lord Ram had twelve kalas. So the rays become equivalent to holy nectar and that’s why the moon God- Lord Chandra is worshipped. During this time, Goddess Lakshmi visits Earth and the devotees worship her blessings.
During this time, the moon also exhibits healing qualities. It prompted that the tradition of preparing the sweet dish- Kheer. It’s left under the moon to absorb the healing properties that are auspicious for body and soul. On this day, the devotees observe a fast, and later in the evening when the moon comes out, they offer prayers and kheer. It is distributed as prasad in the next morning.
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