Kojagara Purnima: The Diviner Festival
Kojagara Puja Vrat Katha is one of the most important days in the Hindu calendar, it is observed with great reverence and devotion. This day is important for both spiritual, cultural, and astronomical reasons because it is the day the moon appears fully in the sky. On this day, the moon shines bright with all sixteen Kalas, which are believed to represent various qualities of a perfect human personality. Hindu tradition ascribes that Lord Krishna is born with all the sixteen Kalas, hence his full essence bears all attributes of Lord Vishnu. So Kojagari Purnima is a day that reveres the moon and the goddess Lakshmi.
Kojagara Puja 2025: In this year it is on 06 Oct 2025 and pooja muhurat: 11:46 PM to 12:34 AM, Oct 07
Importance and Traditions of Kojagari Purnima
The word “Kojagari” is derived from the Bengali phrase “Who is awake?”. This name is taken from the tradition of remaining awake during the night to worship Goddess Lakshmi and the divine blessings of the moon. The night of Kojagari Purnima is considered sacred as the night is believed to carry the healing rays of the moon which nourishes the body as well as the soul. It is believed on this night the moon dropped nectar on the earth for prosperity, good health, and happiness.
Preparation of Kheer is one of the important traditions of this day, an Indian sweet dish made from milk, rice, and sugar. The Kheer is kept under moonlight overnight, and the people believe that the rays of the moon infuse it with divine energy. It is consumed the next morning as Prasad (offering) and shared with family and friends.
Kojagari Purnima and the Significance of the Moon Sharad Purnima, or Kojagara Puja, is all the more special since it’s the only night in the year when the moon supposedly rises with all sixteen Kalas. Vedic astrology describes each Kala as a characteristic of a human being. So, according to belief, the complete combination of all sixteen Kalas creates an ideal and complete personality.
Lord Krishna is so perfect that he was born with all sixteen Kalas and stands as a symbol of completeness.
On Kojagara Puja day, the moon’s rays are supposed to be powerful. Sharad Purnima is considered to be the closest day when the moon is close to Earth; therefore, its light is said to have extraordinary healing and reviving qualities for the body. The tradition of keeping Kheer in the moonlight is considered to hold the power of the moon for one’s health and prosperity.
The Kojagara Puja and Rituals
Kojagari Purnima is not only a day of worship but also a day of fasting and devotion. It is especially significant for married women, who begin their year-long fast on this day. The fast, known as the Kojagari Vrat or Kaumudi Vrat, is observed by those who wish to receive blessings from Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
The procedure of Kojagari Lakshmi Puja
On this day, the idol of Goddess Lakshmi made of brass, silver, copper, or gold is worshipped. The procedure is as follows:
- Starting the Worship: The day starts very early, and the devotees begin their worship by performing rituals dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and the moon. However, the night vigil is the most important part of the worship. People stay awake the entire night, keeping their devotion focused on the blessings of the moon.
- Special Night Worship: After sunset, special worship is done after the moonrise.
- Moon Gazing: As the moon is at its brightest and most powerful on this night, devotees gaze at it, believing that the moon’s rays bring health, prosperity, and peace. The moon is also believed to shower nectar, which is considered a boon for the well-being of devotees.
- Preparing Kheer: On this day, devotees prepare Kheer, a traditional dessert made from milk, rice, and sugar. Then the Kheer is placed under moonlight for the night. If you have a silver vessel, it should be kept outside under the moonlight, after the moon rises in the sky. You can take regular utensils as well. It is believed that the rays of the moon imbibe Kheer with divine energy, thereby making it special in its qualities.
The significance of making kheer on this day is due to the special occasion. Scientifically, it is said that the full moon on Sharad Purnima is close to the earth, and its rays fall on the kheer. These moon rays are said to be soothing to the mind, increase immunity, and ward off diseases. It is said to enhance eyesight and even alleviate respiratory problems.
- The lighting of Lamps: People light 100 ghee lamps before Goddess Lakshmi with the hope of invoking blessings from her. The prayer of lighting lamps represents brightness versus darkness and represents the presence of prosperity or abundance in one’s life.
- Chanting Mantras and Aarti: During the night, devotees chant mantras and sing the aarti of Goddess Lakshmi. This is done to invite the blessings of the goddess Lakshmi, ensuring a life full of wealth, happiness, and spiritual growth.
- Fasting and Prayers: The fasting is observed with full devotion. It is believed that the fast brings prosperity and fortune to the life of the worshipper. It is of particular importance for those suffering from financial hardships.
- Prasada to Goddess Lakshmi: After pooja, the kheer kept in the moonlight should be offered as prasad to Goddess Lakshmi as a token of respect.
- Morning Prasada: The next morning, after worshipping Goddess Lakshmi, the kheer that was exposed to the moonlight is distributed among all family members as prasad.
By following this process with devotion, devotees will receive blessings from Goddess Lakshmi related to wealth, health, and prosperity.
Raas Purnima and Lord Krishna’s Role
Kojagari Purnima is also locally known as Raas Purnima in the Braj region since it was considered to be the night when Lord Krishna accompanied Gopis (cowherd females) in his holy Raas Leela. Raas Leela is a dance of divine love in which Lord Krishna, through the power of flute, attracts the Gopis to join him in an all-night-long dance into the forests of Vrindavan.
It is said that Krishna extended the night to match the length of a Brahma night, which is equivalent to billions of human years.
This sacred event of Raas Purnima is the symbol of divine love and devotion, where Krishna shows his supernatural powers and his eternal bond with Gopis. It is said that on this night, the night was filled with divine music and ecstasy, and one of the most cherished events in the history of Lord Krishna. Moonlight is said to enhance eyesight, boost the immune system, and bring general well-being.
Kojagari Purnima, also known as Sharad Purnima, is a day of religious observance but not just that; it is a day of spiritual renewal, healing, and prosperity. The rituals and practices on this day bring divine blessings that lead to a more fulfilling life. Whether it is the worship of Goddess Lakshmi or the special reverence for the moon, the day offers a unique opportunity for growth, peace, and abundance. By observing the fast, performing rituals with devotion, and making offerings, one can attract prosperity, health, and happiness into their life.
Celebrate this holy day with pure heart and intention and invite the divine blessings of goddess Lakshmi and moon in your life.
Kojagara Puja Vrat Katha (story)
The most popular and widely known story of Kojagara Puja Vrat Katha revolves around the importance of observing the fast properly and the divine blessings one receives as a result. This story is often recited during the celebration of Kojagari Purnima, especially in India.
The Story of the Moneylender’s Daughters
In ancient times, there was a moneylender who was a devout Hindu. He had two daughters, one elder and one younger. The elder daughter was very dedicated to her faith and always performed religious rituals with sincerity. Every Sharad Purnima, she would observe the fasting ritual with devotion, staying awake the entire night to worship Goddess Lakshmi, and offering prayers for prosperity and well-being.
However, the younger sister of the money lender was relatively careless and, being so ignorant, she would only complete half of the Vrata every year. She did not take it with proper seriousness or discipline, often sleeping during the night, missing the main ritual activity of the night that was intended to be awake for the nocturnal worship of Goddess Lakshmi.
The Story that Ensued
Due to her incomplete and careless fasting, the younger daughter suffered a terrible misfortune. Her children, one after another, died shortly after birth. Every time she gave birth, her child would pass away within a few days. This tragedy caused great distress to the moneylender’s family, especially the younger daughter. Devastated by the loss of her children, the younger daughter went to a wise sage for advice. He listened to her sorrowful tale and then told her why she had experienced such misfortune. The sage explained to her that her failure to observe Kojagari Purnima fast properly—that is, not following the rituals of staying awake at night and praying to Goddess Lakshmi—was the cause of her problems.
The sage assured her that if she performed the fast sincerely, with all the rituals, she would be blessed with the well-being of her family, including the birth of a healthy child.
Transformation
The sage reassured her to follow the rituals properly the next year, and she did. She followed the rituals and kept vigil throughout the entire night, praying fervently to Goddess Lakshmi. The next morning, she gave birth to a child, and this time, the child survived and grew healthy.
Know more about astrology: acharyaganesh.com
However, after the miracle, she was still unrest. When her elder sister comes, the younger sister becomes impatient to share this glee with her and lets her see the baby. She puts the child in front of her elder sister and invites her to sit. Her elder sister sat without even realizing that she touched the baby with her skirt. All present witnessed the miracle; they were all surprised that after the touch of her sister’s skirt, the baby revived and started crying.
The younger daughter was elated in joy, but the elder girl was furious and rebuked her. She said that she had wanted to embarrass her, and that, if she had sat down beside him, the child would die. But the young lady humbly responded as follows: “It was only because of your strength in perseverance and faithfulness toward Devi Lakshmi, that the child could re-enter the world again after death. It was their faith and good deeds that helped him return to the physical world.
The Blessing of Goddess Lakshmi
This miracle was taken as the blessing of Goddess Lakshmi, proving that the younger sister’s true devotion towards Goddess Lakshmi is the reason for the revival of the child. When the power of true fasting and worship was understood, the moneylender commanded the entire city to keep the fast on Sharad Purnima and since then, this day has been celebrated with much devotion as Kojagari Purnima (or Sharad Purnima) in honor of Goddess Lakshmi.
Moral of the Kojagara Puja Vrat Katha
The Kojagara Puja Vrat Katha of the Moneylender’s daughters teaches sincerity in religious activities, including prayers and especially fasting rituals, as long as true devotions are done while undergoing the rites. In this aspect of the narration, ritual with a clear conscience along with faith that is immeasurable gives Lakshmi’s tendencies towards fortune, bliss, and meeting all their desires.
The story also emphasizes that even in the face of tragedy, sincere devotion can bring miraculous changes and blessings. Staying awake and praying to Goddess Lakshmi invites her blessings into their lives, ensuring a life of wealth, happiness, and well-being.
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Rituals and Offerings of Kojagara Puja Vrat Katha
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is a festival of the night of Sharad Purnima, worshiping Goddess Lakshmi as the goddess of wealth and prosperity. It is said that on this night, Goddess Lakshmi goes to people’s houses and blesses the people who stay awake to pray for wealth, health, and happiness. On this day, a sweet dish called kheer is prepared from rice and milk and kept outside to absorb the moonlight. The rays of the moon, which are considered “Amrit Barkha” or Nectar Rain, are believed to heal and restore, bestowing a blessing upon those who partake of the kheer. In addition to kheer, fox nuts, and betel leaves are offered to the goddess during night-long prayers and rituals. The kheer is consumed the following morning as prasad.
Significance of Kojagara Puja
Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is a festival that expresses devotion and tradition. People celebrate the festival to show thanks to Goddess Lakshmi for blessings of prosperity and wealth. People believe that staying awake, performing prayers, and observing fasting with sincerity will make them get the blessings from Goddess Lakshmi, which they will enjoy for the next year filled with happiness, health, and prosperity. The festival also strengthens family bonding, especially for newly-wed couples, and binds the community together to seek the goddess’s blessings. The festival is a time to thank for her boons and assure a prosperous year ahead.