Sharad, the autumn is one of the most beautiful season, corresponding to Sept.-October. With the onset of this enchanting season, sharad, the rains slowly make their exit and the most charming time of the year is ushered in, characterized by the azure clear skies, brimful sparkling lakes and rivers--often compared with a beautiful lady after her menstruation. In fact Ashvina and Kartika are believed to be the most pious months of the Hindi Calendar. Kalidas, the doyen of the Sanskrit poets, describes it the following way (in 'Ritusanthar', translated into English by A.W. Ryder) :
The autumn comes, a maiden fair
In slenderness and grace,
With nodding rice-stems in her hair
And lillies in her face.
In flowers of grasses she is clad
And now as she moves along
Birds greet her with cooking glad
Like bracelets, tinkling song.
A diadem adorns the night
Of multitudinous stars
Her silken robe is white moon light
Set free from cloudy bars.
And on her face (the radiant moon)
Bewitching smiles are shown,
She seems a slender maid,
who soon Will be woman grown.
Over the rice-fields, laden plants
And shivering to the breeze;
While in his brisk caresses dance
The blossom-burdened trees
He ruffles every lily-pond
Where blossoms kiss and part
And stirs with lover's fancies fond
The young man's eager heart.
The festival of
Sharad Purnima is observed on the night of full moon of Ashwina. The Moon-god is also the lord of herbs, seeds, the Brahmins, waters and Nakshatras or constellations. It is believed that on
Sharad Purnima, Amrit or nectar is oozed by the moon on to the earth through its rays. Devout ritually keep fast on this day in order to spiritually cleanse themselves to receive this nectar. On this auspicious day makhane-de kheer (milk thickked on slow fire with choicest dry fruits, sugar, etc. are poured into it along with the lotus seeds) is especially prepared in the temples and homes and offered to Lord Hari amidst ringing of the bells and chanting of the hymns.
Threading a needle in the moonlight is a ceremony religiously performed to test one's eye-sight. The kheer prepared in the evening and exposed to the moonshine the whole night is eaten next day as the prasad which is believed to contain nectar oozed out by moon on this day. The whole night, musical and poetical concerts are also held and the moon god is devoutly worshiped. The moon-shine appears so pure and argent as though thin layer of liquid silver in covering the entire atmosphere .
