Sunday, December 31, 2023

Sahasra Purna Chandrodayam and Other Celebrations of the 80th Year

In Sandskrit sahasra means 1000, purna means full, and chandrodayam means dawn of moon.  Sahasra Purna Chandrodayam is a special occasion and celebration organized for an elderly member of the family who has witnessed 1000 full moon days during their lifetime. This is a Hindu custom in India. The 1000th full moon of a person's life occurs when they are approximately 80 years and 9 months old.  The celebration is meant to provide mental and physical strength to a person in their old age and to encourage them to pursue spiritual liberation from all problems in this life.

I hope to celebrate my Sahasra Purna Chandrodayam on December 21, 2024. This particular date also happens to be the date of the Winter Solstice.  The day when the sun rises the least in the sky during the year. I will be also, therefore, celebrating my 80th Winter Solstice.

In Japan, Sanju, a person's 80th birthday, is so called because the character “san” (傘) contains the characters for eight (八) and ten (十). Both sanju and beiju (88) are celebrated by wearing gold, giving thanks, and wishing for more happy years for the person. I have already celebrated Sanju.

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