Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in South Africa to participate in the 15th BRICS Summit, will be virtually present for the significant endeavor of India’s third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, as it attempts a historic landing on the moon’s surface. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that Chandrayaan-3 is on course to make history by achieving a soft landing on the previously unexplored southern region of the moon. The scheduled time for this delicate landing attempt is 18:04 hrs IST.
As the anticipated moment of the moon landing approaches, well-wishes are pouring in from around the globe. In London’s Uxbridge, Indian students and research scholars came together at the Adya Shakti Mataji Temple to hold a special prayer ceremony for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3. Similarly, members of the Indian diaspora congregated at a temple in Virginia, US, to perform a havan (ritual fire ceremony) in support of the mission’s triumph.
The mounting excitement surrounding ISRO’s lunar landing endeavor has triggered a wave of prayers across the nation and beyond. In Rishikesh, a Ganga Aarti was conducted at the Parmarth Niketan Ghat in preparation for India’s third lunar mission milestone. In cities like Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, and Prayagraj, groups of people conducted ‘havan’ rituals and offered prayers, fervently hoping for the Chandrayaan-3 lander’s safe and successful landing. Even children from Vadodara united in prayer for the mission’s success.
In Lucknow, individuals gathered at the Islamic Center of India to offer namaz (Islamic prayers) for the favourable outcome of Chandrayaan-3’s landing.
The live broadcast of the landing operation is scheduled to commence at 5:20 PM IST on Wednesday. Viewers can watch the real-time landing actions through various platforms, including the ISRO website, its YouTube channel, Facebook, and the national broadcaster DD National TV, starting at 5:27 PM IST on August 23, 2023.
Upon a successful landing, India will join an elite group of nations—comprising the United States, Russia, and China—that have achieved this remarkable feat. Importantly, India will stand as the sole country to have achieved a landing on the lunar south pole. Chandrayaan-3’s Lander Module (LM), which includes the lander Vikram and rover Pragyan, is primed to make a controlled touchdown in the vicinity of the moon’s southern pole.
Also Read: Chandrayaan-3 Holds The Key To Advancing Moon Exploration Says Former NASA Official
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