Kojagari Lakshmi Puja 2025 - Monday, Oct 6 2025

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, also known as Kojagari Purnima or Sharad Purnima, is a Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. It is celebrated on the full moon night (Purnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin, which typically falls in September or October. Here's an overview of the festival:

Significance

Spiritual Significance

1. Worship of Goddess Lakshmi: Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Devotees believe that by worshiping her on this auspicious night, they will be blessed with material wealth and spiritual prosperity.

2. Blessings for Vigilance: The term "Kojagari" comes from "Ko Jagarti," meaning "Who is awake?" It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi roams the earth on this night, and blesses those who are awake and devoted, promoting the virtues of vigilance and diligence.

Cultural Significance

1. Harvest Festival: Kojagari Purnima marks the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the harvest season. It is a time to celebrate the bounty of nature and the harvests that sustain life.

2. Full Moon Night: The festival is celebrated on the full moon night of Sharad Purnima, which is considered the brightest full moon of the year. The moonlight on this night is believed to have special healing properties, and it is a time for community gatherings and festivities.

Seasonal and Natural Significance

1. Change of Season: Sharad Purnima signifies the change from the monsoon season to the autumn season, symbolizing a period of renewal and abundance.

2. Healing Moonlight: According to traditional beliefs, the moonlight on Sharad Purnima is considered highly beneficial for health. Food items, especially milk-based sweets like kheer, are left under the moonlight to absorb its healing properties.

Social Significance

1. Community Bonding: The festival brings people together for communal celebrations, fostering a sense of unity and shared cultural heritage. Families and communities come together to perform rituals, sing hymns, and share festive foods.

2. Customs and Traditions: The various customs associated with Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, such as drawing alpana/rangoli, preparing special foods, and staying awake all night, reinforce cultural traditions and promote social cohesion.

In summary, Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is significant for its spiritual emphasis on seeking divine blessings, its cultural importance in celebrating the harvest and community, its seasonal recognition of natural cycles, and its social role in bringing people together in joy and devotion.

Rituals and Traditions

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja involves various rituals and traditions that reflect devotion, cultural heritage, and communal harmony. Here are the key rituals and traditions associated with the festival:

Preparations

1. Cleaning and Decorating Homes: Homes are thoroughly cleaned and decorated with flowers, lights, and traditional motifs. Rangoli or alpana designs are drawn at the entrance to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.
2. Setting Up the Altar: A special altar is set up with an idol or image of Goddess Lakshmi, adorned with flowers, jewelry, and traditional items.

Puja Rituals

1. Fasting: Devotees observe a fast throughout the day, consuming only fruits and water until the puja is completed.
2. Lakshmi Puja: In the evening, elaborate puja rituals are performed. Devotees offer flowers, fruits, sweets, and other offerings to the goddess. Incense sticks and lamps (diyas) are lit to invoke the presence of Lakshmi.
3. Chanting and Prayers: Devotional hymns, mantras, and prayers dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi are recited. The most common mantra chanted is "Om Hreem Shreem Lakshmibhyo Namah."

Special Offerings

1. Kheer (Rice Pudding): A special offering of kheer, made from rice, milk, and sugar, is prepared. It is left under the moonlight overnight, as it is believed that the moonlight infuses it with healing properties.
2. Milk and Rice Flakes: In some regions, milk mixed with rice flakes (poha) is prepared and consumed under the moonlight, signifying the blessings of the full moon.

Night Vigil

1. Staying Awake: Devotees stay awake throughout the night, engaging in prayers, singing devotional songs, and reading scriptures related to Goddess Lakshmi. This vigil is believed to please the goddess and bring her blessings.
2. Community Gatherings: Families and communities come together for collective worship and celebration, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness.

Regional Variations

1. West Bengal: In Bengal, Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is a major festival, with households performing detailed rituals and offering elaborate prasad (sacred food) to the goddess.
2. Maharashtra: In Maharashtra, the festival is known as Kojagiri Purnima. People prepare a special drink called "Masala Doodh" (spiced milk) and enjoy it under the moonlight.
3. Other Regions: Various regions in India have their unique customs and traditions for celebrating Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, reflecting the diverse cultural practices of the country.

Concluding the Puja

1. Breaking the Fast: The fast is broken after the puja rituals are completed, and devotees partake in the prasad and other festive foods.
2. Sharing Prasad: The kheer and other offerings, blessed by the goddess, are shared among family members and neighbors, symbolizing communal harmony and sharing

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is a festival that combines devotion, tradition, and cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of wealth, prosperity, and well-being in one's life.

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is celebrated with diverse cultural traditions across different regions of India. The cultural celebrations reflect the local customs, community spirit, and regional flavors. Here are some notable ways in which different parts of India celebrate this festival:

West Bengal

• Elaborate Pujas: In Bengal, Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is a major household event. Families set up beautiful altars for Goddess Lakshmi and perform detailed rituals with devotion.

• Alpana: Intricate alpana designs (traditional floor art) are drawn at the entrance of homes and around the puja area to welcome the goddess.

• Community Celebrations: In many neighborhoods, community pujas are organized where people come together to worship, sing devotional songs, and share festive meals.

• Sweets and Offerings: Traditional Bengali sweets like sandesh, rasgulla, and payesh are prepared and offered to the deity.

Maharashtra

• Kojagiri Purnima: Known as Kojagiri Purnima in Maharashtra, the festival is celebrated with a focus on the full moon night.

• Masala Doodh: A special drink made of milk, sugar, saffron, and various spices, called Masala Doodh, is prepared and consumed under the moonlight. It is believed that the moonlight enhances the drink's properties.

• Night Vigil: Families and friends gather on terraces or open spaces to stay awake, enjoy the moonlight, and engage in fun activities like singing and storytelling.

Odisha

• Lakshmi Puja: In Odisha, Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Houses are cleaned and decorated, and detailed puja rituals are performed.

• Festive Foods: Special dishes, including sweet rice (chuda ghasa) and various sweets, are prepared and offered to the goddess.

• Cultural Programs: Communities often organize cultural programs, including dance and music performances, to celebrate the occasion.

Gujarat

• Sharad Purnima: In Gujarat, the festival is celebrated as Sharad Purnima, marking the end of the monsoon season.

• Garba and Dandiya: Traditional dance forms like Garba and Dandiya are performed, reflecting the vibrant culture of the state. People dress in colorful attire and participate in these dances with joy.

• Milk and Rice Flakes: A mixture of milk and flattened rice (poha) is prepared and left under the moonlight, which is then consumed as prasad.

Uttar Pradesh

• Harvest Festival: In Uttar Pradesh, Kojagari Purnima is also celebrated as a harvest festival, marking the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the harvest season.

• Community Feasts: Communities come together to prepare and share festive meals. The kheer left under the moonlight is a significant part of the celebrations.

• Local Fairs: In some areas, local fairs are organized, featuring traditional crafts, food stalls, and entertainment.

Other Regions

• Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh: In these states, the festival is celebrated with traditional pujas, fasting, and night vigils. Special emphasis is given to the preparation of kheer and other milk-based sweets.

• Tamil Nadu: Although not as widely celebrated as in other regions, some communities in Tamil Nadu observe the festival with rituals dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and family gatherings.

Common Themes

• Moonlight Celebrations: Across all regions, the significance of the full moon night is a common theme. People gather under the moonlight, often engaging in storytelling, singing, and other activities.

• Communal Harmony: The festival fosters a sense of community and togetherness. Sharing of prasad, communal meals, and collective celebrations are central to the cultural observance of Kojagari Lakshmi Puja.

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is a vibrant festival that brings out the rich cultural diversity of India, with each region adding its unique touch to the celebrations while honoring the common theme of devotion to Goddess Lakshmi and the auspiciousness of the Sharad Purnima night.

कोजागरी व्रत पूजा, कथा और मंत्र हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिये यहां क्लिक करें