Kishalaya

Kojagari or Kojagari Poornima

Kojagara or Kojagari is an important festival in some regions of India. Kojagari is celebrated to worship the Goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi. This festival is observed on the night of full moon in the month of Ashwina. “Kojagara “, literally means the night of awakening. It is also a festival of Goddess Lakshmi who descends on the earth on this auspicious night to bless all with health and prosperity.

Kojagari is one of the most important festivals of Central India, particularly the Budelkand region and in some part of Bihar, particularly Darbanga and Madhubani region. In Bihar Kojagara is one of the important festivals for the newly wed, people celebrate the whole night in festivity and games of amusement.

This ceremony owes its origin to the Kojagari Purnima Vrat sacred to the Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Indra on this night. The ritual is to fast the whole day and after worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Indra at night break their fasts by offering coconut water and flattened rice to the Gods. It seems on this Kojagari night Goddess Lakshmi visits every house asking “Ko Jagarti” meaning `who is awake’ to ascertain. And those who are awake Goddess Lakshmi blesses them with fortune and prosperity. To welcome Her, Houses, temples, streets etc. are illuminated.

This Kojagari Vrat or celebration coincides with the harvest festival. It is also called `Navanna’ (new food) and from this day the new grain of the harvest is usually eaten. It is likely that the full moon shining with its beauty in the pleasant Sharad ‘ritu’ must have given its importance and tempted people to meet together enjoying and feasting under the canopy of the magnificent moonlight, giving birth to a Festival.

In the western state of Gujarat, the night is known as Sharad Poonam. In Gujarat people celebrate it by doing Garba and Raas.

Currently, this full moon comes during Sharad ritu (season ) of the year and hence it is called Sharad Pornima or Sharad Poonam. (Purnima or Poonam = full moon).

This is a prime festival for Bengali’s also.After durga puja this is a festival celebrated almost every house in Bengal.

There is an Ayurvedic reason behind eating cool Milk & Rice flakes on this night. Sharad ritu (season) consists of those two months season change when Summer is ending and Winter slowly starts. During Sharad time days are very hot and nights are becoming more cooler. This is perfect season for Pitta prakop when pitta vitiates along with other two doshas.

Following are the date calendar of some important festivals celebrated in Mithilanchal ( Bihar ) | Mithila Panchang

Festivals this year 1416 Saal (19 July 2008- 7 July 2009)

Source : http://www.angelfire.com/home/mithila/panchang.htm