Delhiites savour Sharbat-Lassi on Nirjala Ekadashi

A slight drop in temperatures brought some respite for Delhiites from the scorching heat on Nirjala Ekadashi, an annual festival that falls in the month of Asad as per Hindu almanac and is said to have major significance for believers.

By Sandeep Datta

New Delhi, June 26 : A slight drop in temperatures brought some respite for Delhiites from the scorching heat on "Nirjala Ekadashi", an annual festival that falls in the month of Asad as per Hindu almanac and is said to have major significance for believers.

Most observe a day-long fast, abstaining completely from water and wheat-based food, and surviving on fruits through the day. It is only after feeding the priests or the poor that one can take food by noon the following day. Others enjoyed drinking Sharbat-Lassi (sweetened milk water) at roadside kiosks.

Kaushalpati Goswami, a priest at the Radha Krishna Temple in Ferozshah Kotla, said: "Hindu families donate a pitcher filled with water, a hand-held fan (Pankhi), and fruits in temples. It is done in the memory of departed souls of the family. The eldest son of the family has to perform this ritual."

On Tuesday, a large number of make-shift stalls were installed inside colonies, outside temples and on roadsides. The organisers arranged Sharbat (sweetened water) mixed with milk and fruits for the passer bys and distributed it everywhere.

Jitendra Goswami, one of the organisers at a colony near I.T.O, said: "We have been organising the Nirjala Ekadashi since 1948 here. We pool money and many people from our colony come and donate sugar, milk packets, and Sharbat bottles for the day. Many kids and youngsters volunteer to distribute things on our stall."

S. Ramakrishan, CEO of Chhattarpur Mandir in South Delhi, said: "We started at 10 a.m. and it will conclude at 5 p.m. We have deployed over 200 of our volunteers for distribution of sharbat. About 315 kilograms of sugar, three quintals of milk and 180 bottles of Rooafza (with water) is being used. "

There are individuals who distribute offerings from morning to late noon till the last donated material is finished. There are others whose distribution lasts as long as the last collected paisa remains. In many offices, the arrangement is done exclusively for the staff.

Nirjala Ekadashi is said to be one of the most popular vows observed by the Hindu community. On the eleventh day of the every fortnight of every month this vow is observed. In this way in a year this vow is observed for 24 days.

Amongst these 24 days, the vow observed on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi is considered to be the most beneficial, if one properly observes a vow on this day it is said to give the fruits of 24 Ekadashi observed throughout the year.

Legend has it that King Pandu's son Bhimsen once came to know that sage Vyas Muni would observe Ekadashi without partaking food through out the day. He urged him to suggest a way out to enable him to abstain from water and food every fortnight for the fast without lessening the benefit of keeping the total 24 fasts during a year.

Vyas Muni told Bhimsen to observe fast on Jyestha Shukla Ekadashi that would absolve him of eating on all Ekadashis falling every fortnight. Thus, Bhimsen could observe this fast. It is also known as Bhimsen Ekadashi.

Severe austerities have to be practised to accomplish this vow properly. During the month of Jyestha the day is longer and one after feels thirsty. As a result it is difficult to observe this vow without drinking water.

ANI