Know When Is Sharad Purnima 2024: 16th Oct 17th Oct?

Being a follower of Hindu mythology, you must have come across the festival, Sharad Poornima. But what is so special about Sharad Poornima 2024? Sharad Poornima marks the end of the monsoon season and falls on the full moon day of the month Ashwin (as per the Hindu calendar). So, let us join the festivities and enjoy the full moon’s magic together. Happy Sharad Purnima!

Sharad Purnima 2024 Date And Time

Sharad Purnima Date: 16th October 2024, Wednesday
Sharad Purnima Tithi Begins: 08:40 PM (16th October 2024)
Sharad Purnima Tithi Ends: 04:55 PM (17th October 2024)
Moon Rise on Sharad Purnima Date: 05:05 PM

What is Sharad Purnima?

Also known as ‘Kumara Poornima’, ‘Kojagiri Poornima’, and ‘Raas Poornima’, Sharad Poornima is one of the significant Hindu festivals. It falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month, Ashwin. But do you know one interesting fact that makes this festival apart from the others? It is the only day when we get to see all 16 virtues or kalas. And Lord Krishna was believed to be born with all of these 16 kalas or virtues.

Also, people believe that on Sharad Poornima, Lord Krishna played his flute and danced with the beautiful gopis under the moonlight. In some parts of India, especially in places with a lot of farms and harvests, Sharad Purnima marks the end of the monsoon season and the start of the harvest season.

Importance of Sharad Purnima

After knowing the meaning of Sharad Poornima, let us hop onto the significance and explore the importance of Sharad Poornima in Hindu mythology. It is believed that there is something magical about the moon’s rays on Sharad Poornima. People leave a bowl of Kheer under the moonlight. Later on, this Kheer is distributed as ‘prasad’ the very next day.

Let us share another interesting fact about this festival with you. Do you know why this harvest festival is also known as ‘Kojagiri festival’? Or why do people stay awake during the Sard Poonam? If you are not familiar with this, then give us a minute to explain. The word ‘Kojagiri’ has been derived from the Bengali language, which means ‘who is awake’.

So, as per mythological beliefs, Goddess Lakshmi only blesses those who stay awake during the night of the Sharad Poornima date. It is believed that such people achieve financial abundance and prosperity in their lives.

Legends Behind Sharad Purnima

Aren’t you interested in knowing the mystery behind why people associate the name of Lord Krishna and Radha with this festival? Or why do people perform Sharad Purnima Lakshmi puja?

The Story Of Dhananjeya

Let us take you back to the time when there used to be a popular ruler called Dhananjeya. Unfortunately, his kingdom was dealing with a financial crisis. Seeing the pain and misery of people due to poverty, he decided to do something.

So, on the advice of his chief priest, he observed a fast on the day of Sharad Purnima Moon to seek the blessings of the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Maa Lakshmi. Since he stayed awake the whole night, Chandra Dev blessed his kingdom, Magadha, to live a happy and disease-free life.

On the other hand, Goddess Lakshmi gifted his kingdom with wealth and prosperity. Since then, people have worshipped Goddess Lakshmi and Moon to get a happy and prosperous life.

The Story Of Lord Krishna And Radha Rani

Now, another legend mentions the very famous Raasleela of Lord Krishna with Radha Rani and his gopis. It is believed that on the day of Sharad Purnima, hearing the flute of Lord Krishna, all the Gopis used to sneak out of their houses and perform Raasleela with Lord Krishna in the forest of Vrindavan. This is why the people of Vrindavan call Sharad Purnima ‘Raas Purnima’.

Rituals followed in Sharad Purnima 2024

After learning about the importance of Sharad Purnima, you must now be wondering what to do with it. Don’t worry; we have got you covered. One by one, we will uncover all the famous rituals observed on this auspicious day.

No Hindu festival ritual can be started without purification and rejuvenation of the body. This is why people bathe in the Brahma Muhurta on the day of the Sharad Purnima Moon.
After the purification, it is time to offer prayers to the Goddess Lakshmi. People offer lotus flowers, fruits, sweets and light diya and seek blessings from the wealth and prosperity goddess Lakshmi Maa.
According to the rituals, people observe the fast throughout the day. However, some people keep the ‘Nirjala’ vrat, during which they do not drink water.
The next ritual is to seek the blessings of Chandra Dev, aka the Moon, in the evening. This involves offering white things to him, such as white flowers, rice, sugar, and rice. This process is known as ‘Naivedyam’, which means offering food to the god.
The ritual ends with the Sharad Poornima Kheer when people keep it in a silver vessel under the moonlight. And the very next day, this Kheer is distributed as a part of Prasad.

Also Read: Margashirsha Purnima 2024: Significance, Rituals And Vrat Katha

Well, that’s a wrap on the Sharad Poornima 2024 festival with its rich history, significance, and rituals. Now you know why this festival is considered one of the most important in Hindu mythology. We hope that Goddess Lakshmi blesses you abundantly on this Shard Purnima.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Sharad Purnima good for marriage?

Yes, Sharad Poornima is good for marriage. As per mythological beliefs, if an unmarried woman keeps a fast on Sharad Purnima, then chances are that she will get a suitable groom. On the other hand, married women also observe fast on this day for a happy and peaceful marriage.

2. What happens to the moon on Sharad Purnima 2024?

It is believed that on the full moon of the Ashwin month, aka Sharad Purnima, the Moon shines brightly with all of its 16 virtues or kalas. Not only this, but the rays of the Moon contain healing powers that are enough to heal the individual spiritually and physically.

3. Why is Sharad Purnima celebrated?

The festival of Sharad Purnima holds a special significance in Hindu mythology. It falls on the full Moon day of Ashwini month (as per the Hindu lunar calendar) and marks the end of the monsoon. However, some people believe that Sharad Purnima is the birthday of the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, aka Goddess Lakhsmi. This is why people seek the blessings of her to gain financial abundance.

4. What to eat during Sharad purnima?

Usually, people obverse fast on the day of the Sharad Purnima, but they also eat Kheer as a part of the Sharad Purnima ritual. Some people keep the Sharad Purnima Kheer under the moonlight and then distribute it as Prasad the very next day.

5. Are there any benefits of Sharad Purnima Moon?

Yes, there are several benefits of Sharad Purnima Moon. One of the most significant benefits is that it blesses an individual with healing powers both physically and spiritually. Moreover, people suffering from diseases such as asthma are said to be benefitted from this day.

6. What colour to wear on Sharad Purnima?

People usually wear the colour white on the day of Sharad Purnima. This is because the Moon is associated with the colour white, and it is auspicious to wear white as it signifies the brightness of the Moon.

Also Read: Kartik Purnima 2024: The Full Moon Of Blessings And Joy!

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