Sharad Poornima is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Ashwin of the Hindu Lunar calendar. Sharad Poornima is also known as Ras Poornima and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this day in different parts of India. This festival is also known by the name of Kojaagari Purnima.
Importance of Sharad Purnima
Sharad Purnima is an auspicious Hindu festival, which marks the end of monsoon season and the beginning of winter season. It is believed that on this day, the Moon through its ray cascades amrit or elixir of life on earth. The brilliance of the full moon brings joy, especially after monsoon. It is also believed that worshiping Goddess Lakshmi on this night beings prosperity and people observes fast to get blessings from the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. There are several mythological beliefs associated with this festival and one of the beliefs is that Goddess Lakshmi was born on the day of Sharad Purnima and owing to this, in many parts of India the festival of Sharad Poornma is celebrated as Lakshmi Puja with great enthusiasm. This day is also called Ras Purnima because it is believed that under the bright light of the moon, Lord Krishna had performed Ras Lila with the gopis and thus in many place Ras utsava is celebrated on this day. There is also a scientific significance, according to which, on this day moon and earth comes closer and it is believed that the rays of the moon on this day that falls on earth has curative power.
Celebration of Sharad Poornima
The festival of Sharad Poornima is celebrated with great zest and people do not sleep at night on this day. Many religious rituals are performed on this day among which preparing Kheer and offering to Goddess Lakshmi is a general practice. In some places as per customs, people do not see the moon directly. They see the moon on a vessel filled with milk and some also believe that putting thread on the needle beneath the rays of the moon improves the eyesight and this ritual is followed in many parts of the nation. One of the most common ways of celebrating this festival is that people keep poha, kheer and other sweet dishes beneath the moon light on that night and is distributed as Prasad on the next morning. In the states of West Bengal, Assam and Orisa, Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the day of Sharad Purnima to mark the birth of the Goddess.
Importance of Sharad Purnima
Sharad Purnima is an auspicious Hindu festival, which marks the end of monsoon season and the beginning of winter season. It is believed that on this day, the Moon through its ray cascades amrit or elixir of life on earth. The brilliance of the full moon brings joy, especially after monsoon. It is also believed that worshiping Goddess Lakshmi on this night beings prosperity and people observes fast to get blessings from the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. There are several mythological beliefs associated with this festival and one of the beliefs is that Goddess Lakshmi was born on the day of Sharad Purnima and owing to this, in many parts of India the festival of Sharad Poornma is celebrated as Lakshmi Puja with great enthusiasm. This day is also called Ras Purnima because it is believed that under the bright light of the moon, Lord Krishna had performed Ras Lila with the gopis and thus in many place Ras utsava is celebrated on this day. There is also a scientific significance, according to which, on this day moon and earth comes closer and it is believed that the rays of the moon on this day that falls on earth has curative power.
Celebration of Sharad Poornima
The festival of Sharad Poornima is celebrated with great zest and people do not sleep at night on this day. Many religious rituals are performed on this day among which preparing Kheer and offering to Goddess Lakshmi is a general practice. In some places as per customs, people do not see the moon directly. They see the moon on a vessel filled with milk and some also believe that putting thread on the needle beneath the rays of the moon improves the eyesight and this ritual is followed in many parts of the nation. One of the most common ways of celebrating this festival is that people keep poha, kheer and other sweet dishes beneath the moon light on that night and is distributed as Prasad on the next morning. In the states of West Bengal, Assam and Orisa, Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the day of Sharad Purnima to mark the birth of the Goddess.