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When is Sharad Purnima in the Year 2021 Date
October 19, 2021 - TuesdayWhen is Sharad Purnima in the Year 2021?
Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojaagari Purnima, is celebrated on a full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin (September-October). It is also known as Kaumudi (moonlight) celebration, as on this day, the Moon showers amrit or elixir of life on earth through its rays.
The brightness of the full moon brings special joy and marks the changing season, the end of the monsoon. It was also on this night over 5,000 years ago that Lord Krishna and Radhaji revealed the Supreme Divine bliss to innumerable Gopis in Vrindavan.
The first full moon day of the month of Ashwin is known as Sharad Purnima. It is also referred to as Rasa Purnima, or Sharath Purnima. The festival is also referred as Kaumudi Festival, Kaumudi meaning moonlight. The bright light on this full moon day marks the changing season, the end of monsoon.
The dazzling night is associated with the divine love filled Raas Lila (Expression of love by graceful dance) of Lord Krishna with Radha and Gopis.
This history is related to Sharad Purnima, makes it the best time to manifest love between couples. The day is also referred as Rasa Purnima or Raas Lila Day.
At night, goddess Lakshmi is worshiped and night vigil is observed. According to a folk-tale, once a king fell on evil days, and was in great financial straits, but then his queen observed this fast and night vigil, and worshiped the goddess of wealth, Laxmi.
Consequently, they were blessed by the goddess and they regained their prosperity.
Consequently, they were blessed by the goddess and they regained their prosperity.
Sharad Purnima is also known as Kojagari Purnima. It is believed that on this night Goddess Lakshmi visits from place to place asking “Kojagari??” meaning “Who is awake” and bless those who are found awake.
Hence people don’t sleep this night and spend whole night by playing games, singing and doing all amusing activities.
Rituals of Sharad Purnima:
1. Many rituals are practiced on this festival of bright moonlight. There is general practice of preparing kheer (Sweet dish made by boiling milk and mixing cooked rice along with sugar and dry fruits) and offered before God.
2. In some areas, the full moon is not seen directly instead it is seen on a vessel filled with boiling milk.
3. Some people thread a needle on this full moon night under the rays of the moon. This is said to improve one’s eyesight.
4. The most common practice is of keeping the prepared kheer, poha (Rice flakes) or sweets in moonlight through out the night and distributed as Prasad on the next day.
On Sharad Purnima, girls wake up early, take a bath, wear new garments and offer food to the Sun God. They observe fast throughout the day and in the evening, when the moon rises, they again make special offerings, this time to the moon. They consume this offered food after the rituals are over. For girls, it is a festival to rejoice, dance and sing special songs.
Hindus believe that Lord Krishna began his Raas Leela with Radha and the gopis on the night of Sharad Purnima. The day brings together two major aspects in the lives of farmers – prosperity promised by good harvests, and spiritual blessings from a divine power which oversees all human achievement and endeavour.