Chandrayaan-3: Devotees offer prayers at Surat's Gyarah Mukhi Hanuman Temple for success of lunar mission

Surat (Gujarat) [India], August 23 (ANI): Even as the hours ticked down to the historic attempted soft landing of the ISRO lander on the moon's south pole, prayers were offered at Surat's Gyarah Mukhi Hanuman Temple in anticipation of a successful climax of the country's third lunar mission — Chandrayaan-3.
The scheduled soft touchdown of the Vikram lander on the lunar south pole is around 18:04 IST on Wednesday while its powered descent is expected at 1745 IST.
In Surat, also known as the Diamond City, Vedic chants rang out at temples as prayers were offered for the success of India's third lunar mission. Devotees held aloft the tricolour as the prayers were offered.
Ankur Desai, the organiser of the special worship, said, "Today is a big day for our country. Due to the efforts of our scientists and, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our space programme is reaching new heights. The whole country is praying for this mission's success.”
People, across faiths and communities, have come forward to extend their heartfelt wishes for the success of the lunar mission. 
Beyond the country's shores, too, people from the Indian diaspora, have been offering prayers or indulging in rituals for the success of Chandrayaan-3.
From the Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh to the United States, special rituals, prayers, and ceremonies are being conducted for the success of Chandrayaan-3.
A Ganga Aarti was also dedicated to India’s third lunar mission. The Aarti was performed at Parmarth Niketan Ghat in Rishikesh, with devotees holding the tricolour.
Namaz was also offered at the Islamic Center of India in Lucknow for the success of Chandrayaan-3.
Indian Americans, too, performed a ‘havan’ (Hindu fire ritual) and ‘Abhishekam’ ahead of the attempted lunar landing of the ISRO lander.
Members of the Indian diaspora performed a havan at a temple in Virginia, US for the success of the mission.
India will be the fourth country in the world to achieve a lunar landing after the United States, Russia, and China.
However, India will be the only country in the world to achieve a soft landing on the lunar south pole. (ANI)