Chitra Pournami 2024

Significance Of  Chitra Pournami Festival Celebration in 2024

Chitra Pournami in 2024? Date & Time

A celestial wonder, the moon appears as a brilliant ball in the night sky and changes size every day. It peaks in Chitra, from mid-April to mid-March, and is characterised by beautiful, cloudless skies that are frequently linked to coolness on hot summer days. The Chitra Pournami Tithi, scheduled for April 23, 2024, will commence at 03:25 AM and conclude at 05:18 AM on Tuesday.

Significance of Chitra Pournami

Upon the reunion of the Sun and Moon, Chitra Pournima is celebrated. Chitra Pournami focuses on tracking and rewarding good and bad activities, emphasizing the long-term effects of deeds. It encourages prayers and rituals to cleanse sins.

Chitragupta, believed to be Parvathi Devi's son, was born to Gomatha Kamadhenu on Chitra Pournami. Chitragupta, created by Lord Brahma, aids Yama, the God of Death, and records a person's good and negative deeds. After death, souls travel to Yama's dwelling, where they face judgement. If wicked deeds exceed good ones, souls go to heaven. On Chitra Pournima, worshippers record karmas and perform pujas to appease God. Thousands visit Anamala Hills for Pradakshina walk, fasts, and the Chitragupta temple in Kanchipuram, South India, to observe the 14-kilometer walk and belief in a new birth cycle (samsara).

Mythology tells that there are several stories

Lord Indra had an argument with his Guru Brihaspati, leading to him committing misdeeds. Brihaspati stopped advising him, and Indra began committing sins. After a few days, Brihaspati returned and found Indra stressed over his sins. He advised him to take an earthly pilgrimage to lower the burden. Indra followed his advice and eventually received redemption. During his earth pilgrimage, he discovered a Shiva Linga under a Kadamba tree and a golden lotus in a nearby pond, which he offered to Lord Shiva. This incident occurred on the day of Chitra Pournami in Madurai, and the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai organised Devendra Puja on the same day.

Chitra Pournami Puja Rituals

•  The best time to observe Chitra Pournami Pooja is in the late evening or early morning, when the Full Moon is at its brightest.
• On this day, it is customary to fast; this type of fast is called the "Chitragupta Vrata" or "Chitragupta Nombu." It is mandatory for the followers to fast on Chitra Pournami's day.
•  Family members of any gender are capable of doing Chitra Pournami puja.
•  The house is cleaned and adorned on this day, both inside and out.
•  A padi kolam or maakolam (drawing made with rice powder) depicting Chitragupta holding a pen and paper is delineated before the entrance.
• Set up the pooja chamber with paper, pencil, Navadhanyam (nine distinct grains), Chitrannam (variety rice), and dhal ready.
• It is tradition to repent to Chitragupta for any terrible deeds you have done up to this point and ask him to keep you safe from evil deeds.
• You can recite the slokas found in Chitragupta Pooja books, which are sold in book stores.

Chitra Pournami Vrata (Fasting) Rules

•  Following Chitra Gupta's departure from Kamadhenu, the Divine Cow, followers are advised not to consume cow's milk or any dairy items.
  
  
• After the Chitra Gupta pooja, devotees are supposed to eat saltless curd rice or go without food for the entire day. They should also contribute rice and vegetables and give Brahmins Dakshina, or alms, in a Muram, a bamboo sieve.

Chitranna and its varieties

Chitra Pournami specialises in the preparation of chitranna. On this day, those who fast offer prayers to the Moon and Chitragupta and present Chitranna as Naivedhya. After the puja is concluded, they consume the Chitranna as prasad to break their fast.
On the auspicious day of Chitra Pournami, various varieties of Chitranna are cooked. Popular Chitrannam varieties include:

•  Ven Pongal: Creamy rice and aromatic spices, a South Indian classic to warm your soul.
•  Sakkarai Pongal:  Jaggery-infused rice, a heavenly treat steeped in tradition and flavor.
•  Tamarind Rice: Tangy, spicy, and utterly addictive
•  Coconut Rice: Infused rice, a symphony of flavors from the coastal regions.
•  Curd Rice: Creamy, cooling, and utterly delightful
•  Lemon Rice: Bursting with zesty freshness and vibrant flavors,
•  Mango Rice: Flavor-packed escapade with the delightful fusion of ripe mangoes
•  Coriander Rice: Aromatic coriander-infused rice

Chitra Pournami Benefits

         Chitra Pournami is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon day of the lunar calendar, marking the beginning of the lunar year. It is a significant event in Hinduism, as it is believed to be a time of purification and atonement for any negative karma. The Puja is a reminder to avoid wrongdoings and prioritise integrity and truth. Devotees pray to God to purge their minds of negative thoughts, and some even plan Yagnas and recite mantras to appease the Lord. The puja is believed to be the most spiritual way to communicate with God, encouraging individuals to pursue inner salvation and clear their inner self of negativity.

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