A supermoon, called perigee by astronomers, is that point or event in a cosmic cycle when the natural satellite is closest to Earth. And when the moon’s orbit is closer to our planet, the gravitational pull is also stronger.
On November 14 this year, skywatchers around the world were treated to a glorious supermoon — the moon hadn’t come this close to Earth in almost 70 years. It was said to be 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than usual.
Many Hindus marked the rare occurence by offering prayers on the banks of sacred rivers. The celestial phenomenon coincided with the auspicious occasion of Kartik Poornima.
The peaceful riverside town of Maheshwar, in Madhya Pradesh, was aglow with diyas as tourists, pilgrims, as well as members of religious and spiritual groups gathered by the Narmada. Maheshwar — mentioned in the Mahabharata and Ramayana by its old name, Mahishmati — draws sadhus and pilgrims to its ancient ghats and temples even today.
Lunar energy is accorded special significance in Hindu rituals and deemed to be at its most powerful on full-moon nights. It is considered an opportune time for meditation, healing, and the recharging of one’s energy field and chakras. On supermoon night, women were seen performing fire ceremonies and chanting mantras in groups while taking a dip in the river. Many pilgrims began the parikrama (circumambulation) of the Narmada on this day.
Photos: Deepti Asthana
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.