A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the moon partially passes through the Earth’s shadow, causing only a part of it to turn reddish-brown luckily for the selenophiles, this rare and beautiful celestial phenomenon is slated to take place in October this year and will coincide with the Hindu festival of Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojagari Purnima or Kaumudi Purnima.
Sharad Purnima is celebrated by the Hindu community in India to mark the brightest and fullest moon of the year and it is believed that on this night, when the moon is especially beautiful and brings radiance to the Earth.
About Sharad Purnima
Sharad Purnima ordinarily falls on the full moon day in the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin, which commonly happens in October while the fractional lunar overshadowing will be seen from any place the moon is over the skyline including Asia, Russia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, Antarctica, Oceania, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Singapore and it will be noticeable in the south-western sky from New Delhi.
Date And Time
In India, a few famous urban communities where halfway lunar shroud would be noticeable incorporate New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Varanasi. The Sutak time frame will start at 02:52pm on October 28 and will end at 02:22am and according to the Drik Panchang, the lunar obscuration will begin at 01:06 am and will end at 02:22am.
Rituals
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- It is a common tradition during Sharad Purnima for Hindus to spend the night outdoors, gazing at the full moon and participating in cultural activities like singing, dancing and offering milk, rice and special sweets to the moon as a gesture of respect and devotion.
- Many people, especially women, observe a fast on Sharad Purnima and stay awake all night and consume special meals or dishes made of milk and rice while kheer or sweet rice pudding is a traditional dish prepared on Sharad Purnima .