As the monsoon finally retreats and the crisp breeze of autumn settles in, the Indian sky offers a silver spectacle a night so luminous that the moon seems to have descended a little closer to Earth. This is Sharad Purnima, the full moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin, and it isn’t just another date on the religious calendar it’s a celebration of divine love, celestial energy, and the promise of prosperity.
But what makes this moonlit night truly special is how it’s celebrated differently, yet with equal fervor across the diverse cultural landscape of India.
What Is Sharad Purnima?
Sharad Purnima, also known as Kojagiri Purnima, is believed to be the night when the moon is at its brightest and closest to the Earth. According to traditional beliefs and ancient Ayurvedic texts, this is the night when moonbeams drip with “amrit” (nectar) a celestial elixir said to have healing and nourishing properties. 
It’s also the only night of the year when Goddess Lakshmi the goddess of wealth is said to roam the Earth, asking “Ko jagrati?”. Those who stay up in her honor are believed to be blessed with prosperity, luck, and abundance.
How India Celebrates Sharad Purnima
Let’s take a moonwalk across India to see how different regions celebrate this luminous night in their own unique, beautiful ways:
West Bengal
In Bengal, Sharad Purnima overlaps with Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, where homes are beautifully decorated with alpona (rice flour designs), and families worship the goddess with great devotion.
Women fast through the day and break it after moonrise with kheer, fruits, and sweets. The kheer is often placed under moonlight for a few hours to absorb lunar energy before being offered to the goddess and shared as prasad.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, the night is known as Kojagiri Purnima, and the highlight is a community celebration under the stars. Families gather on terraces and balconies, sharing stories, laughter, and a special drink: chilled saffron milk kept out under the moonlight.
Staying awake all night is a tradition not only for spiritual reasons but also as a moment to pause, connect, and soak in the lunar magic.
Gujarat
Sharad Purnima in Gujarat coincides with the end of the harvest season, and it’s often celebrated with Garba nights, night-long bhajans, and community feasts. Traditional songs invoke Krishna’s Raas Leela, which according to legend happened on this very night under the full moon in Vrindavan.
Uttar Pradesh – Mathura-Vrindavan:
Perhaps the most romantic celebration of Sharad Purnima happens in Mathura and Vrindavan, where it’s believed that Lord Krishna performed the mystical Raas Leela with the gopis. On this night, the divine dance is re-enacted in temples, and the air is thick with devotion, music, and joy.
Odisha & Bihar
In parts of eastern India, women observe strict fasts during the day, and prepare rice kheer with tulsi and camphor in the evening. The kheer is left under moonlight not just as a tradition, but as a symbolic offering to nature and the cosmos.
Beyond mythology, Ayurveda and traditional wellness systems consider Sharad Purnima as a powerful time for healing. The cool, post-monsoon atmosphere helps balance the body’s pitta (heat). Moonlight rich in ultraviolet rays on this night is believed to rejuvenate both body and mind.
Whether through kheer kept under the stars or rituals designed to calm and connect, the underlying message of Sharad Purnima is one of balance, abundance, and reflection.
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