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14 Oct 2024

Chhattisgarh: Temples in Raipur to Feature Special Decorations for Sharad Purnima; Kheer and Medicine Will be Prepared Embracing the Divine Moonlight


This Wednesday, on Ashwin Shukla Paksha, Chhasttisgarh capital Raipur will joyously celebrate the festival of Sharad Purnima with the preparation of rice kheer. Following the conclusion of Navratri, temples have begun gearing up for the festivities, which will feature midnight worship and the distribution of prasad. 


At  midnight, special prayers will be offered to the gods, with kheer being presented as an offering. According to tradition, families will place kheer outside under the moonlight, in homes, public squares, and crossroads, for the event known as Amrit Varsha, symbolizing the nectarous blessings of the moon.


As per the Panchang (Hindu lunar calendar), the full moon of the Ashwin month will begin on October 16 at 8:40 p.m., and continue until October 17, ending at 4:55 p.m. Moonrise is expected to occur at 5:05 p.m. on this auspicious day. In the city's Mahamaya Temple, around 30 kg of milk will be used to prepare kheer and rabri, which will be offered to the goddess following her special decoration at 11:00 p.m. 


Maha Aarti will take place at midnight, after which kheer will be distributed as prasad to the gathered devotees. Additional kheer prasad will also be distributed the following morning. Other ancient temples across the city will also partake in similar celebrations, preparing kheer for the devotees.


Jugaljodi Decorations and Temple Rituals


At the Doodhdhari Math, located in Purani Basti, Lord Shri Ram will be worshipped as part of the Sharad Purnima rituals, followed by the distribution of kheer prasad to devotees. The temple will remain open until late into the night, allowing for extended darshan (viewing of the deity). Following the Maha Aarti, kheer will be offered to all present. Additionally, Jugaljodi Sarkar at the ISKCON Temple in Tatiband, as well as Radhakrishna temples in Samata Colony and Jawahar Nagar, will be adorned with floral decorations. After the elaborate flower decorations of these deities, kheer left under the moonlight will be given as prasad to devotees.


Ayurvedic Kheer at Gayatri Shaktipeeth


The Gayatri Shaktipeeth in Samata Colony will honor the occasion by preparing kheer using the Ayurvedic method. An Ayurveda expert from the Gayatri Parivar shared that consuming kheer on Sharad Purnima holds great significance. Special medicinal ingredients are added to the kheer to protect against various ailments. The preparation is believed to help women in particular, alleviating several health issues.


Medicine Distribution for Asthma Patients


In Lakhenagar, the Ramakrishna Jansamuh Trust will observe Sharad Purnima by distributing herbal medicines to asthma patients. This tradition of providing medicinal relief has been maintained annually by the organization. A program of devotional singing (bhajan kirtan) will begin at 9:00 p.m. and continue until midnight. 


During this time, prasad will also be distributed, offering people remedies for various health conditions, including back pain, jaundice, asthma, kidney stones, and respiratory problems. This long-standing custom has been helping the community for years.


Lakshmi Puja in the Bengali Community


In the Bengali community, special rituals for Mata Lakshmi will be held at Kalibari temple at 7:00 p.m. Kheer will then be prepared and distributed during the night as prasad. According to a temple representative, the same worship performed on Diwali is also carried out on Sharad Purnima, with the belief that from this day onward, Mata Lakshmi begins visiting homes to bestow blessings. 


This day holds special significance, and along with the temple ceremonies, traditional rangoli designs and rituals honoring Mata Lakshmi will be conducted in Bengali households throughout the city.


Sharad Purnima, with its mix of religious devotion, health practices, and community spirit, continues to be a cherished celebration across various communities, bringing people together through worship, food, and shared traditions.



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