Sharad Purnima 2017

Sharad Purnima in 2017 is on 5th October. Observe fast and perform Sharad Purnima puja with complete methods to confer heartily reverence to goddess Lakshmi. May Almighty Lakshmi and Narayan during this Sharad Purnima bring mammoth blessing, and bequeath illimitable wealth and prosperity in home of their devotees!

Sharad Purnima is ardently celebrated on purnima of Ashwin shukla month every year in India. It is one of the venerable occasions of fast for Hindus, which is devotedly dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu (Satyanarayan bhagwan). Lord Indra is also given adoration for celebrating this sacred occasion. Nonetheless, all purnima (full moon day) of Hindu lunar month is offered reverence, but Sharad Purnima is especially considered very blessed to please and venerate ‘Goddess of wealth’ Lakshmi and ‘Lord of truth and peace’ Vishnu or Narayan. The day comes once in a year and is celebrated with full of enthusiasm in many parts of India. There are particular rituals and customs to be followed to celebrate this auspicious occasion. As this occasion falls in Sharad ritu (autumn), season of tender grace and celebrations, it is admirably known as ‘Sharad Purnima’. Each and every devotee of Lakshmi and Vishnu, believers of sharad purnima and ladies heartedly participate to celebrate this auspicious occasion with full of respect. Devotees get up early in the morning, take bath for purification of body and soul, and start rituals in honor of this day. During this auspicious occasion, puja ghar or shrine places are wonderfully decorated with marigold and red rose flowers. Images of Goddess Lakshmi and Satyanarayan bhagwan are kept or attached on wall of shrine place. Vivid kinds of sweet blessed food, mesmerizing incense sticks, dhoop, and lamps are lighted to adore the place of God.

Important rituals attached with Sharad Purnima

• Establishing Kalash filled with water
• Preparing Kheer in evening which is kept throughout the night
• Lighting diya (lamps), especially of ghee
• Observing fast and reciting Sharad Purnima Katha (story)

Methods of Pooja during Sharad Purnima

Offering tradition and customs of this blessed day are very simple but particular. On the auspicious occasion of Sharad Purnima, devotees especially ladies take oath of observing fast for the whole day and if possible in night also. They abstain from food throughout the day. After bath in morning they decorate pooja ghar and establish patta (wooden place) where idol or image of Lakshmi is kept. Fragrance of agarbatti (incense sticks), dhoop, and flowers are offered. A kalash filled with water and a small vessel filled with wheat Kernels are kept on patta. Swastik with roli is drawn on both kalash and katori (small vessel). It is strongly believed that offering kheer made of cow milk and rice is very special and dear to deity Lakshmi and Narayan. So, offering kheer is not only important but also an auspicious part in pooja methods of sharad purnima. After offering all pooja items, reciting or hearing story of Sharad purnima is significant to understand the fruits of this auspicious day. Ladies or devotees who observe Sharad purnima fast keep 13 kernels of wheat or few grains of rice on hand and then hear katha.

It is also believed that kalash is kept open throughout the night and is offered to moon. Similarly, kheer is kept for the whole night and is eaten on next morning after distributing dan(donation) and Prasad to brahmin.

Sharad purnima vrat Katha

Long time ago, there was a businessman used to live in his place with two daughters. Both of his daughters used to observe fast of Sharad Purnima and offer worship to goddess Lakshmi. But the only difference, the elder daughter always concludes fast and worship with full of dedication, and younger daughter did it in parts. After some time, younger daughter experienced the series of miseries in her life. Whenever she gave birth of any child, the baby used to meet death soon. When she realized that all of her babies were not able to live for long, she shared this of her misery to a sagacious pandit. Pandit told that the trouble is only because due to her incomplete sharad purnima pooja and advised her to observe fast and conclude pooja with full of methods without leaving any important ritual attached to it. Following guidelines of pandit, younger daughter completed her sharad purnima fast. Yet, her next baby boy died soon just after the birth. Younger sister kept the dead body of her son on a peedha (wooden place), covered that with a white cloth and called her elder sister to sit on it. Elder sister was unaware about it and lowered herself on that peedha. But with just touch of her cloth, the child began crying and got his life again. The elder sister scolded younger sister for making her commit a sin of killing a baby. But younger sister explained everything that only due to her (elder sister’s) virtues and pious deeds, the baby boy received his life again.

Likewise, all devotees should perform sharad purnima puja and katha with complete methods and full of devotion to obtain grace of almighty Lakshmi.
With full of reverence, blessings of this sharad purnima are for all of you. May Goddess Lakshmi bestow enormous grace to her devotees and believers of sharad purnima!