Today is Kartika Purnima, and on this full moon day, our holiest month of Hindu culture ends. The entire month remains strictly vegetarian for most of the people, practicing rituals to cleanse the mind, body, and soul. Last five days are known as Panchuka, and almost everyone shun non-vegetarian food, even the cranes turn pious and give up eating fish. There is a scientific rationale as well behind this : diseases spread more readily with the onset of monsoon, so it's essential to refrain eating heavy or non-vegan meals to stay healthy.
The month marks the end of the holy period of last four months (Chaturmasya), and it's believed, Lord Vishnu enters a yogic sleep in the netherworld or subterranean realms of the universe (Patala) since the start of Chaturmasya and return to his abode today.
On the start of this month a Diya is hosted in our temple premise and every day, its brought down to add ghee and then again hosted back. This Deep Daan is a ritual to please Lord Vishnu to return to his abode.
In some places, the diya is kept on rice only and the same rice is used today to cook the prasad, as the rice is soaked in ghee for one month, it has a very unique and different taste.
During the entire month, arts are made on each day with Rangoli at the sacred Tulasi plant( the holy basil), Tulasi being the consort of the Lord Vishnu, pleased by these offerings to reach to the Lord.
Kudos to our temple priest who consistently take care of making these beautiful arts with his lovely skill.
Our ladies observe the entire month with auspicious customs and during the last five days of Panchuka, go to the temple at early morning and do the Sankirtana, rounding around our apartment society. It's believed that women sustain the healthy life of their husband by doing all these auspicious rituals even if their husband don’t follow any dharma - that's the power of a woman resembling the chastity and purity of Tulasi or Vrundavati - true woman empowerment from ancient times.
And specific to my place, we also celebrate the Boita Bandana, on Kartik Purnima in memory of our ancient maritime trades dating back to 3rd century BC. People go to the nearest water body to set afloat miniature boats, but then we filled our mini swimming pool where the ladies can fulfill the ritual.
After completing that, they offered their prayers at the temple and went for five rounds of Sankirtana. I have tried to capture it in video from different places to bring the best of it.
Women drive the family in our culture with these religious practices, that brings mental peace at times of difficulty which is very important in this stressful life - Kudos to them for what they sacrifice for the family.
Finally the prasad was cooked at the temple premise and offered to the Lord first and then distributed in the public. Ladies did ensure to arrange everything and our temple priest cooked it. It was very tasty, that's the power of blessings, every time you cook in the temple, it's an entire different aroma.
So that's all ? NO.... We do have a prasad sevan ceremony now in the evening for all the families of the society at the temple premises. Collectively seeking the blessing have a different charm.
I have been capturing the clips for the entire month for this post and it's an incredible effort to club all this, but hey that is how we share our culture, isn't it ? Hopefully these posts will help pass this information to our next generation. At one age in life, you will need only divine blessings to lead a peaceful and happy life. They can't be bought........
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