Devotees gather at Har Ki Pauri for Ashwini Purnima rituals as India prepares for partial Lunar eclipse
Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee announced that the doors of Shri Badrinath Dham and several other temples were shut at 4 PM on October 28. This action marked the commencement of the Sutak period, coinciding with the lunar eclipse.
As people gear up to experience this rare cosmic event, several devotees flocked to the scared site of Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, in celebration of Ashwini Purnima. As part of the ritual celebration, people immerse themselves in the holy water of the Ganges, to demonstrate their unwavering faith.
A devotee at Har Ki Pauri shared with ANI, «Today is the lunar eclipse (Chandragrahan), a day considered highly auspicious for taking a dip in the Ganges. We've journeyed here from Odisha with this purpose in mind, and it has filled us with a profound sense of peace and well-being.»
In adherence to Hindu customs, lunar eclipses are times of abstinence from bathing, charitable acts, or religious ceremonies.
Temples also observe closures during this period.
During a lunar eclipse, it is advised to stay indoors and refrain from initiating new endeavors or engaging in activities. Pregnant women are particularly urged to remain indoors and abstain from activities such as sewing, handling sharp objects like scissors or knives, and even eating, to safeguard the well-being of the unborn child.
The second and final lunar eclipse of 2023 is set to occur this weekend, being a partial lunar eclipse unfolding over October 28 and 29.
This cosmic phenomenon, according to NASA, will be visible throughout India and across the Eastern Hemisphere, spanning Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
