Other · Lakshmi, Krishna, the Moon
Sharad Purnima
The brightest full moon of the year, when milk-rice is set out under its light and Lakshmi is invited.
Also known as: Kojagiri Purnima, Kaumudi Purnima, Raas Purnima
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
On the full-moon night (Purnima) of the month of Ashwin, at the end of the monsoon and the start of autumn (sharad ritu). The date is the one on which the full moon is in the sky through the night, so the evening and moonrise decide it.
About Sharad Purnima
Sharad Purnima is the night when the moon is said to be at its fullest and brightest, with all sixteen kalas, or phases of beauty. The skies are clear after the rains, the air is cool, and the night is considered one of the most pleasant of the year.
People prepare kheer, rice cooked in milk with sugar and dry fruit, and keep it in the open under the moonlight for some hours. Next morning the kheer is shared as prasad. Temples hold night-long bhajan and kirtan, and in many places families stay awake, which gives the day its other name, Kojagiri, meaning who is awake.
Significance
In devotional belief, Lakshmi walks the earth on this night asking who is awake, and blesses those who are engaged in worship and watchfulness. For this reason the night is also called Kojagara and is the main Lakshmi festival in Bengal, Odisha and Assam.
For the followers of Krishna, it is the night of the Maha Raas, the circle dance with the gopis in Vrindavan, described in the Bhagavata Purana. Traditionally, the moonlight of this night is also believed to be soothing and nourishing, which is the reasoning behind keeping kheer outdoors, though this is a matter of faith rather than proven science.
Sharad Purnima puja and kheer
- 1Rise early, bathe, and take the sankalp for the vrat. Many people keep a fast through the day, taking fruit or a single light meal.
- 2Worship Vishnu and Lakshmi in the morning with flowers, a lamp, rice and sweets. Some also worship Indra and Airavata, as per local custom.
- 3In the evening, prepare kheer with milk, rice and sugar, and add cardamom and dry fruit.
- 4When the moon is high in the sky, set the kheer in a clean vessel, cover it with a thin cloth or a net, and place it where moonlight falls, such as a terrace or courtyard.
- 5Light lamps, offer the moon water, rice and flowers, and worship Lakshmi with a lamp and the aarti.
- 6Stay awake for part or all of the night with bhajans, kirtan, or reading the Lakshmi Stotra or Bhagavata passages on the Raas Leela.
- 7In the morning take the kheer in, offer it first to the deity, and share it as prasad with the family. Give food or donations to the needy, and perform a river bath if you can.
The story
A widely told folk story concerns a moneylender's two daughters. The elder kept the Purnima fast fully, and her children flourished. The younger stopped halfway, and her children did not survive. The younger sister placed her dead child on a bed and invited the elder to sit, and the elder's skirt touched the child, who came back to life crying. She understood the power of the complete vrat, and the whole town took it up.
A vrat katha associated with Kojagara Lakshmi worship, told in some regions as the story of a king named Bala, says that a king in distress was advised to keep a night vigil on this night, with dice played in Lakshmi's honour, so that her grace would return to him. Versions of this story differ, so treat it as folk tradition. A third account, from the Bhagavata Purana, describes Krishna calling the gopis with his flute on this moonlit night for the Raas dance, which Shiva himself is said to have come in disguise to witness.
What to do
- ✓Keep the kheer covered in a clean vessel under the moonlight.
- ✓Worship Lakshmi and Vishnu, and offer the moon water and rice.
- ✓Stay awake with bhajans, kirtan or readings for as long as you can.
- ✓Take the kheer as prasad the next morning, after offering it to the deity.
- ✓Share food and donations with those in need.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not leave the kheer uncovered where insects and dust can fall into it.
- ✕Do not eat the kheer left out for many hours if it has spoiled or the weather is hot.
- ✕Avoid quarrels, anger and harsh speech on the night.
- ✕Do not break a vrat midway if you have taken the sankalp; choose a lighter version beforehand.
- ✕Avoid non-vegetarian food, alcohol and tamasic items.
Around the country
- Bengal, Odisha and Assam: Kojagara Lakshmi Puja at home, with alpana patterns on the floor, and a night of games and songs.
- Gujarat: Sharad Purnima (Sharad Poonam) is tied to the close of Navratri garba, and in many homes doodh-pauva, flattened rice in milk, is eaten under the moon.
- Braj and Vrindavan: Raas Purnima, with Raas Leela performances and special darshan at Krishna temples.
- Maharashtra: Kojagiri Purnima, when people stay awake, drink sweetened masala milk, often kept in the moonlight first.
Frequently asked questions
Why is kheer kept under the moonlight?
By tradition the moon of this night is believed to be at its fullest and its rays soothing, so the kheer is thought to take on a blessed quality. It is a custom of faith, and the kheer should be covered and eaten fresh.
Why is it called Kojagiri?
Ko jagarti means who is awake. According to belief, Lakshmi visits that night asking this question and grants her blessings to those who stay awake in prayer.
Is Sharad Purnima the same as Raas Purnima?
In many regions, yes, as both name the Ashwin full moon, associated with the Raas Leela. In some places, such as Assam, Manipur and parts of Bengal, Raas Purnima refers to the Kartik full moon, so check the local usage.
Can the vrat be kept without staying awake?
Yes. Staying awake the whole night is traditional, but you can adapt it to your health and routine, praying for part of the night and keeping the rest of the observance.