Faithful Bathe at Prayag Sangam as Sharad Purnima Begins

Prayagraj, October 25

The sacred city of Prayagraj has seen a surge of faith on Sharad Purnima, as devotees began arriving at the Triveni Sangam from the Brahma Muhurat onward. The confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the hidden Saraswati has been filled with pilgrims seeking spiritual renewal.

Many devotees immersed themselves in the holy river, and afterward offered prayers to Ma Ganga and Goddess Lakshmi. They asked for the prosperity and happiness of their households, good health, and the welfare of every living being.

Understanding the Festival

According to Sanatan tradition, Sharad Purnima is a day of exceptional importance. It is considered the one night in the year when the moon is fully radiant with its sixteen phases. Belief holds that nectar descends through the moon's beams on this night, linking the occasion with healing and prosperity.

A Custom Under the Stars

An ancient observance is still followed on this night. Families place kheer in the open air, believing that the moon's nectar-laden rays endow it with medicinal value. The next morning, this kheer is eaten as prasad, which devotees say helps cure various ailments and restores bodily wellness.

Words from the Ghats

Devotee Sanju, who reached the Sangam for the occasion, said the day has enormous importance. She described how kheer is made and left out overnight, and said she had come to pray to the Ganga for the well-being of all.

Tirth purohit Gopal Guru explained that devotees bathe in the Ganga and prepare kheer in the evening, placing it on rooftops to catch the moon's light. After offering it to the deity in the morning, it is shared as prasad. He added that worshipping Maa Lakshmi and Lord Indra on this night brings prosperity, and that healthy and beautiful children are a blessing associated with it. He stressed that bathing in the Ganga at Prayag offers a joy that is hard to match elsewhere.