Sharad Purnima

The Hunter’s Moon is called ‘Sharad Purnima’ or ‘Kojagiri Purnima’ in India. Believers used to place a bowl of rice pudding on the terrace under the moon for the night, and then consume it. The effect of moon rays on the lactic acid molecules in milk is supposed to be beneficial. The starch in rice facilitates absorption.

It is not a practice widely followed now, as people live in apartments and fear infections. We do cook a rice pudding (kheer) on this day, though.

It is interesting how fables are spun around elements of nature, in the local context. India has been an agro-economy for long, and many festivals are built around harvest seasons, with fresh produce.

stories circulate
it’s an object of wonder
moon wonders what’s true

#Haikai Challenge #108 (10/12/19): Hunter’s Moon (next full moon (nochi no tsuki)) #haiku #senryu #haibun #tanka #haiga #renga