September 18 Supermoon: There is a partial lunar eclipse Wednesday. The full Moon started entering the Earth’s partial shadow at 6:11 am and finish exiting the 10:17 am, after completing the eclipse. NASA had said it would be best viewed from the night side of the world — North America, South America, Europe and Africa — weather permitting.
The eclipse was not visible in India. The full Moon tonight will be a Supermoon, also called the Corn Moon and the Harvest Moon, appearing full for three days from Tuesday through Thursday. The day marks the end of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and the beginning of Pitru Paksha, the ‘fortnight of the ancestors’.
What Is A Supermoon?
“Supermoon” was given this name by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. It occurs when the Moon is “within 90% of its closest to Earth”, NASA says. Supermoons usually appear bigger, and are brightest Moons. September superman will be the second of four consecutive supermoons of the year.
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Significance of September Supermoon In India & Other Cultures
Wednesday marks the beginning of Pitru Paksha in India. It’s a 15-day period when ancestors are worshipped, and it ends with the new Moon when Mahalaya is observed. During this period Hindus remember their ancestors with rituals, special offerings, and reading of the scriptures.
Since the September full Moon is closest to the autumnal equinox, it is called the Harvest Moon. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known written use of the name in the English language was in 1706.
Europe has other names also for this full Moon — Corn Moon, Fruit Moon, and the Barley Moon.
For Buddhists, this full Moon is Madhu Purnima. The legend has it that Buddha was offered fruit and honeycomb by elephants and monkeys, respectively, in a forest when he was trying to bring peace between two factions.
In Korea, this full Moon marks the harvest festival Chuseok, during which people return to their hometowns to honour the spirits of their forefathers.
It corresponds with the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival harvest festival in China, Vietnam, and some other Asian countries too. Japan celebrates the first of its two Tsukimi or ‘Moon-Viewing’ festivals during this full Moon.
