Lunar eclipse prompts change in Kavady prayer date

Hindu devotees are urged to take note of the change in date of the main Thaipoosam Kavady prayer which will be held a day earlier on Tuesday, January 30. This is because of the lunar eclipse.
According to the Vedas, during an eclipse, inauspicious elements are at their strongest. Therefore, it is customary Hindu practice not to conduct any prayer or ritual during any eclipse, irrelevant of where the eclipse is visible.
“Also according to the Hindu calendar, Poosam Nakshatram commences at 4.48 pm on Tuesday, January 30, and ends at 2.06pm on Wednesday, January 31,” said Geetha Dookhi, Hindu Temple secretary in Dundee.
“Therefore, we, the officials of the Dundee Hindu Temple, taking into consideration the above facts, have decided that it is in the best interest of all devotees and the community to hold our main Thaipoosam Kavady commencing at 5.30pm on January 30 and not at 5.30pm on Wednesday, January 31 as previously advertised. Therefore all devotees carrying kavady on the main Thaipoosam day should have begun their fast on Sunday, January 21.”
Also due to the eclipse, on Wednesday, January 31, milk abishegam will take place as usual at 6am.
At 10am, the Guru will perform a hawan, one paal kodum will be carried around the temple, abishegam will be done and thereafter at 1pm the temple will be closed until Thursday morning 6am when the usual milk abishegam will be done.
The public kavady will still take place on Sunday, February 4, as advertised.