Indians Globally Engage In Praayers For The Prosperous Touchdown Of Chandrayaan-3

World prayers gather as Indians anticipate the historic lunar success of Chandrayaan-3, bringing countries and faiths together.

Written by: Namrata Sawal

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: August 23, 2023

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) stands at the brink of creating history as the Vikram lander of its lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, aims to make a landing on the Moon's southern polar region today, August 23, at approximately 18:04 hours. The mission's climactic moment revolves around a critical 15-minute phase, in which the lander shifts from rapid horizontal movement to a gentle vertical descent onto the lunar terrain. ISRO has affirmed that the mission is proceeding as planned and has also shared images captured by the lander showcasing the Moon's far side.

At an impressive speed of 1.6 kilometers per second, it encircles the Moon, maintaining a distance of roughly 30 km above its terrain.

Over the ensuing 690 seconds, the engines of Chandrayaan-3 will engage, comparable to lightly applying brakes on a bicycle, progressively diminishing its pace to a quarter. Simultaneously, the Moon's gravitational pull directs its descent at around 60 meters per second. A subtle course correction, akin to steering a bicycle, guarantees accurate alignment with the designated landing area.

People of Indian origin across the world have been engaging in prayers, eagerly anticipating the significant event of Chandrayaan-3's Lander Module executing a "soft landing" on the Moon's surface. This pivotal moment is set to occur at 6.04 pm on Wednesday. Regardless of their religious affiliations, individuals offered prayers on Wednesday morning, hopeful for India's achievement of a momentous feat in space exploration.

A successful landing would establish India as the first nation to accomplish such a task on the Moon's challenging south pole region. A recent Russian endeavor, Luna-25, aiming for a similar achievement, faced failure just 12 hours prior to its scheduled landing time.

From Rishikesh to the United States, individuals are engaging in unique rituals, prayers, and ceremonies to seek blessings for the triumph of Chandrayaan-3. Diverse religious observances across India are being organized to solicit blessings for the pioneering lunar mission's success.

In Uxbridge, London, Indian students and researchers gathered at the Adya Shakti Mataji Temple to hold a dedicated prayer session, seeking a secure landing for Chandrayaan-3.