Sharad (Kojagari) Purnima 2017: This is why the day is special and important for you and your family

Goddess Lakshmi (Source: PTI)

Sharad or Kojagiri Purnima marks the onset of the autumn season in the country and this festival will be observed on Thursday (October 5). This Purnima falls on the full moon day in the Ashwin month (according to Hindu calendar) and is celebrated in various parts of the country. Hindus celebrate the moon this day and this is known as the Kaumudi celebration. As per a report by Firstpost, the moon showers ‘Amrit’ (nectar) on the Earth. Thus, people make ‘kheer’ or milk rice pudding and place it under the open sky, so that it absorbs the moonlight throughout the night and then it is consumed in the morning to get the miraculous powers of moonlight for health and happiness. Interestingly, on this day, the moon gets closest to the Earth.

Sharad Purnima has a special significance attached to it. The Firstpost report further says that, on this day, moon perfects 16 different ‘kalas’ or skills and these kalas, which are believed to come from the moon on this auspicious day, combine to form a perfect human personality. Another report by astrospeaks says that the festival Sharad Purnima circles around Lord Krishna’s dance with Gopis. The report also talks about another story of a king under financial constraints.The story says that the king’s wife, seeing her husband in misery, observed a fast and prayed to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, the whole night. Her prayers were answered and soon, the king regained all his lost property and wealth.

Thus, the day brings an opportunity for the believers to get better health and stay prosperous.