Date: 16 October 2024
Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojagiri Purnima or Kaumudi Purnima, is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin (usually in September or October). It marks the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the harvest period in India. Sharad Purnima holds great cultural, spiritual, and seasonal significance, particularly in North India and the western coastal regions.
Significance of Sharad Purnima:
- Night of Divine Blessings: Sharad Purnima is believed to be the night when the moon is at its brightest, closest, and most radiant. It is said that on this night, the moon showers its cooling and healing rays on Earth, which have medicinal and nourishing properties. It is a time for invoking blessings of health, prosperity, and happiness.
- Celebration of Radha-Krishna Raas Leela: In the Braj region, particularly in Vrindavan and Mathura, Sharad Purnima is celebrated as the night when Lord Krishna performed the divine Raas Leela (dance of divine love) with Radha and the Gopis (cowherd maidens). It symbolizes the spiritual bond between the divine and the devotee, beyond worldly attachments.
- Kojagiri Night Vigil: Sharad Purnima is also known as Kojagiri Purnima, meaning “Who is awake?” It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, descends to Earth on this night, blessing those who are awake and worshipping her with prosperity. People stay awake throughout the night, praying, singing devotional songs, and enjoying the moonlit ambiance.
- Traditional Rituals and Offerings:
- Milk and Rice Delicacies: A special dish called “Doodh Poha” or “Kheer” (sweetened rice in milk) is prepared and kept under the moonlight to absorb the cooling rays of the moon. This dish is then consumed as prasad, believed to have healing properties.
- Fasting and Prayers: Devotees observe fasting and perform prayers to seek blessings for good health and happiness. The fast is usually broken with the moon-blessed prasad.
- Moon Gazing: People gather on rooftops or open spaces to gaze at the moon and enjoy its serene beauty. The sight of the bright, full moon is thought to be auspicious and spiritually uplifting.
- Community Gatherings: Sharad Purnima is also a time for community gatherings, cultural performances, and group chanting of devotional songs. Many Gaushalas (cow shelters) and temples organize special events, feeding cows, distributing prasad, and hosting kirtans (devotional singing).
- Harvest Celebration: The festival marks the beginning of the harvest season, symbolizing abundance and gratitude towards nature. It is a time to celebrate the bounty of the Earth and share it with others.
Sharad Purnima is a night of divine connection, celebration, and gratitude. It reminds people of the beauty of nature, the importance of community, and the blessings of the divine in everyday life.