📅 Date and Auspicious Timings
- Purnima Tithi Begins: October 6, 2025, at 12:23 PM
- Purnima Tithi Ends: October 7, 2025, at 9:16 AM
- Moonrise Time: October 6, 2025, at 5:33 PM
(Timings are based on Delhi; please consult your local Panchang for precise timings.)
🌟 Significance
Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojagari Purnima, Kaumudi Purnima, or Raas Purnima, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Ashwin month. It marks the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the harvest season. On this night, it is believed that the moon showers its cooling and nourishing rays, which are considered to have healing properties.
In the Brij region, this day is celebrated as Raas Purnima, commemorating the divine dance (Maha-Raas) performed by Lord Krishna with the Gopis.
🛐 Rituals and Observances
🔅 Fasting and Worship
- Devotees observe a day-long fast, seeking blessings for health and prosperity.
- Special prayers and Lakshmi Puja are performed at night, as it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi descends to bless those who are awake and devoted.
🔅 Preparation of Kheer
- A traditional sweet dish, kheer (rice pudding), is prepared using cow's milk, rice, and sugar.
- The kheer is kept under the moonlight throughout the night, absorbing the moon's rays, and is consumed as prasad the next morning.
🔅 Night Vigil (Jagran)
- Devotees stay awake all night, singing bhajans and engaging in spiritual activities, to receive the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi.
🎉 Regional Celebrations
- Maharashtra: Known as Kojagiri Purnima, people prepare masala milk and enjoy moonlit gatherings.
- Odisha: Celebrated as Kumara Purnima, where unmarried girls fast and pray for a suitable groom.
- Bengal, Assam, and Tripura: Lakshmi Puja is performed with great devotion, and homes are decorated with alpana (rangoli).
🧿 Spiritual Benefits
- Health and Healing: The moon's rays on this night are believed to have medicinal properties that promote well-being.
- Prosperity: Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this night is said to attract wealth and abundance.
- Fulfillment of Desires: Observing fasts and rituals with devotion can lead to the fulfillment of heartfelt wishes.
🙋♂️ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why is kheer kept under moonlight on Sharad Purnima?
It is believed that the moonlight on this night has healing properties. Keeping kheer under the moonlight infuses it with these energies, making it a sacred prasad.
Q2. Is it necessary to stay awake all night?
Staying awake is a traditional practice to show devotion and receive the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, who is said to visit and bless those who are awake and worshipping.
Q3. Can anyone observe the fast on Sharad Purnima?
Yes, anyone seeking blessings for health, prosperity, or fulfillment of desires can observe the fast, regardless of age or gender.
📝 Conclusion
Sharad Purnima is a night of divine blessings, spiritual awakening, and communal harmony. By observing the rituals and staying devoted, one can invite health, wealth, and happiness into their lives.