Sharad Purnima

Sharad Purnima (also known as Kumara Purnima, Kojagiri Purnima, Navanna Purnima,[1] or Kaumudi Purnima[2]) is a harvest festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (September to October), marking the end of the monsoon season.

Sharad Purnima or Kumara Purnima
The Moon on Sharad Purnima, 2017
Type	Hindu
Begins	Full Moon Day, Ashvin
Date	Ashvin full moon
Frequency	annual
Related to	Lakshmi, Moon

In Odisha, on this day unmarried women keep fast with the popular belief of getting their suitable groom(kumara). This festival starts with maidens welcoming the sun god just at sunrise with a coconut-leaf-made-vessel called 'kula' filled with fried paddy containing 7 fruits like coconut, banana, cucumber, betel nut, sugar-cane, guava followed by 'Aarti'. In the evening they break their fast by preparing a dish containing the fried paddy of the morning along with the fruits, curd, and jaggery to offer the moon god before the 'tulsi' plant. After this maidens play games and sing songs under the light of the full moon.

The Kojagari Purnima concerns the observance of the Kojagara Vrata. People perform this Vrata under the moonlight after fasting for the day. Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, is significantly worshipped on this day as it is believed to be her birthday.[3] Lord Indra, the God of Rains, seated on his elephant, Airavata is also worshipped as also is Lord Shiva with his consort Parvati and carrier Nandi. The devotee breaks the fast at night by taking parched rice and milk after offering them to the moon-god. Vivid descriptions of this night are given in Brahma Purana, Skanda Purana, and the Linga Purana. It is said in these Puranas that Goddess Lakshmi takes rounds of the earth to watch the actions of human beings during this night.[2]

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  Kojagori Laxmi