Sharad Purnima
Sharad Purnima is a harvest festival celebrated on a full moon day in the month of Ashvin. This festival marks the end of the monsoon in India. Autumn starts from this day itself. It is also known as Kojagiri Purnima, Kumar Purnima, or Kaumudi festival.
In 2024 Sharad Purnima will be celebrated on Wednesday, 16th October.
Sharad Purnima in Bengal is called Kojagari Lakshmi Puja. It is called Kojagari Puja in Maharashtra and Sharad Poonam in Gujarat. According to Hindu texts, every year the first full moon that falls after the Shardiya Navratri is called Sharad Purnima. It is believed that on this full moon day, the rays of the moon bring nectar showers.
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped in many parts of India on this day. It was believed that Goddess Lakshmi was born on this day from the churning of the ocean.
Significance of Sharad Purnima
On Sharad Purnima, the moon is closest to the earth and the moon’s light spreads in all four directions. The rays emanating from the moon on this night are believed to be like nectar. The moon’s rays on this day are full of medicinal properties and are believed to cure many serious illnesses.
Science ensures during the full moon day, the gravity effect will be at its peak, and it invokes positive effects such as reducing gastric issues, increasing stability in metabolism, and giving a balanced body-mind.
There is a belief about Sharad Purnima that on this day Maa Lakshmi goes on a tour during the night. On this day, whoever worships Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu with a sincere heart, gets the desired boon and wealth.
Sharad Purnima Laxmi pujan
The festival of Sharad Purnima is celebrated with great pomp across the country. On this auspicious day, many divine pairs like Radha Krishna, Shiva Parvati, and Lakshmi Narayan are worshipped along with the moon and are offered flowers and kheer (a sweet dish made of rice and milk). Deities in temples are usually dressed in white color signifying the brightness of the moon. Many people observe full-day fasting on this day.
On this day devotees wake up all night and chant hymns to please Goddess Lakshmi. There is also a special tradition to make kheer on this day. After worshiping Goddess Lakshmi the kheer is kept outside in the open. It is believed that full moonlight makes the kheer-like nectar have many medicinal properties. In the morning kheer should be accepted by all the people of the house as prasad.
According to mythological beliefs, on the day of Sharad Purnima, Lord Krishna created Maharas with the gopis on the banks of Yamuna, so from this day the rules of Yama, fasting, and lamp donation of Kartik month also start.
Sharad Purnima Worship Method
- On the day of Sharad Purnima, after waking up early in the morning have a bath and wear clean clothes. Worship your Ishta Devtaa and Maa Lakshmi first.
- Light a lamp of pure ghee in the mandir of your house.
- Offering white food items to Goddess Lakshmi is considered auspicious.
- Recite Mahalaxmi Ashtakam or Shri Sukta on this day.
- Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi after the moonrise is considered very fruitful on this day.
- Some devotees also stay awake the entire night since it is believed that Maa Lakshmi descends to the earth on this day and blesses all with happiness and prosperity.
