Enchanted By The Ethereal Glow

 

Photo by the author -Shubha Apte
    

 The full moon is associated with mystery, magic and a sense of wonder and awe. I experienced a feeling of calmness and tranquillity while observing the moonlight on the Ganga in Rishikesh.

Rishikesh is in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India. Ganga flows through the Himalayan Valley and originates from the mountainous terrains of Rishikesh.

I was in Rishikesh on the full moon day, and my hotel was on the banks of the river Ganga.

To sit on the banks and observe the moonlight spread on the river water can not be described in words but can only be experienced.

It reminded me of William Shakespeare’s magical words,

"How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!

Here will we sit and let the sounds of music

Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night

Become the touches of sweet harmony."

– William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

The full moon day, called Purnima in Hindi, is an auspicious day per the Hindu calendar. During this day, most people observe fast throughout the day and have a light meal at night after sighting the moon.

It is believed that taking light food on the full moon day helps to reduce the acidic content in our body system, slows down metabolic rate and restores the body and mind balance.

The full moon day is considered auspicious and is important in Hinduism because the moon completes its one cycle around the earth, which signifies the end of a chapter in life.