Sharad Purnima 2026: Date (25 October), Kojagari Puja, Moonlit Kheer, Raas Purnima and Why Purnima Spans Two Days

Quick answer: Sharad Purnima and Kojagari (Kojagara) Lakshmi Puja are on Sunday 25 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Hyderabad). Purnima tithi begins at 11:55 AM IST on 25 October and ends at 9:41 AM IST on Monday 26 October. The moon rises at 5:07 PM in Hyderabad on the 25th, so the vigil, Lakshmi puja and moonlit kheer belong to Sunday night. Ashwina Purnima, Valmiki Jayanti and Meerabai Jayanti are listed on Monday 26 October.

Last updated: 18 October 2026. The Hindus abroad section now gives the city-wise dates from Drik Panchang (24 or 25 October). On 10 October, the guide was rewritten with Drik Panchang's tithi timings, a clearer explanation of the two dates and safer guidance on the moonlit kheer custom.

Sharad Purnima is the full moon of the month of Ashwina, the first full moon after the monsoon, when the sky is clear and the moon looks its brightest. It closes the festive fortnight that began with Navaratri, and it is loved under many names: Kojagari Purnima in Bengal, Odisha and Assam, Kojagiri Purnima in Maharashtra, Kumar Purnima in Odisha, Raas Purnima for Krishna devotees, and simply Sharad Punam in Gujarat. See all the month's dates in our October 2026 Hindu festivals calendar.

Sharad Purnima 2026 date and tithi timings

Source: Drik Panchang day panchang for Hyderabad. Sunrise on 25 October is 6:12 AM and moonrise is 5:07 PM. Tithi changes happen at the same moment across India; moonrise differs from city to city, so check a local panchang for your city.

Why does the full moon span two days?

A tithi does not follow the calendar day. In 2026 Purnima starts just before noon on Sunday and ends mid-morning on Monday. Different observances look at different parts of the day:

• The Kojagari vigil, Lakshmi puja and kheer under the moon need Purnima at night, during moonrise and midnight. That is Sunday 25 October.
• Observances that follow the tithi at sunrise, such as the Purnima bath, charity and the jayantis of Maharishi Valmiki and Meerabai, are kept on Monday 26 October, when Purnima prevails at sunrise.
• Families who keep a Purnima fast usually fast on Sunday and complete their worship that night; follow your family custom.

For the Monday observances, read our Valmiki Jayanti 2026 guide and the panchang for 26 October 2026.

Kojagari: the night Lakshmi asks 'Who is awake?'

The name Kojagari comes from the Sanskrit question 'Ko jagarti?', 'Who is awake?'. It is traditionally believed that on this night Goddess Lakshmi moves across the earth asking that question, and that she blesses homes where people stay awake in devotion, with lamps lit and hearts alert. The vigil (jagaran) is therefore the heart of the night: singing bhajans, reading stories of the Goddess, playing traditional games with the family, and keeping the lamp burning.

The idea is gentle and practical. Lakshmi is drawn to wakefulness, cleanliness and generosity, not to idleness. Many families clean the house, draw rangoli or alpana at the entrance, and keep the door open to the moonlight.

A folk katha told on this night

One widely told folk story speaks of two sisters. The elder kept the Purnima vrat fully and with devotion; the younger kept it carelessly and suffered hardship. When the younger sister learned to keep the vrat sincerely, her home was blessed. Like many vrat kathas, it is told to encourage steady devotion, and it is shared in different versions across North India.

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja in Bengal, Odisha and Assam

In Bengali homes, Lokkhi Puja on Kojagari Purnima follows Durga Puja by a few days and is one of the most beloved household pujas of the year. The floor is decorated with alpana showing the Goddess's footprints, the puja is done by the women of the house, and the Lakshmir Panchali, a verse narrative of the Goddess, is read aloud. Bhog often includes khichuri, labra, narkel naru and other sweets. Our detailed Kojagari Lakshmi Puja 2026 Bengali puja vidhi covers the alpana, the bhog and the Panchali.

In Odisha, the same full moon is Kumar Purnima, associated with Kartikeya and with young people, especially girls, who play games and sing songs. See our Kumar Purnima 2026 Odisha guide. In Assam, Lakshmi Puja is also kept in many homes on this night.

Kojagiri in Maharashtra and Sharad Punam in Gujarat

In Maharashtra, Kojagiri Purnima is celebrated with masala milk, simmered with saffron, cardamom and dry fruits and shared after the moon has been seen; many families honour the eldest child of the house. In Gujarat, Sharad Punam nights bring one more round of garba, and dudh-pauva (milk with flattened rice) is a popular treat under the moon.

Raas Purnima: Krishna's dance with the gopis

In the Bhagavata tradition, the autumn full moon is the night of the Raas Lila, when Krishna played his flute on the banks of the Yamuna and the gopis of Vrindavan came to dance with him in the moonlit forest. Devotees read the Raas Lila as a picture of the soul's longing for God: each gopi felt that Krishna was dancing with her alone. Vaishnava temples, especially in Braj, celebrate Raas Purnima with kirtan, decorations in white and silver, and Raas performances.

A simple Krishna mantra for the night:

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय॥

oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya||

Meaning: Om, salutations to Lord Vasudeva (Krishna).

Moonlit kheer: the custom, done safely

The best-known custom of Sharad Purnima is kheer (rice pudding) left in the moonlight. It is traditionally believed that the moon of this night is especially nourishing and cooling, and that kheer exposed to its light becomes prasad. Families then share it the same night or the next morning.

• Make the kheer fresh in the evening with rice, milk and sugar or jaggery. Many families use a silver, steel or clay bowl.
• After moonrise, offer it to Lakshmi and to the moon, then place it where moonlight falls: a terrace, balcony or open window.
• Cover it with a fine muslin cloth or mesh so that dust and insects stay out while light can still reach it.
• Do not leave milk dishes out for many hours in warm weather. Many families keep it out for a while after moonrise and then refrigerate it, or eat it the same night.
• Share it with family, neighbours and anyone who visits, as prasad.
• People with diabetes or lactose intolerance can take a token spoonful, use a suitable sweetener or plant milk, or offer fruit instead.

The custom is about gratitude and sharing, not about health claims. If you are unwell, keep it simple.

Simple Sharad Purnima puja vidhi at home

1. During the day: clean the house and the puja space. If you keep the Purnima vrat, eat light sattvic food or fast as your family does.
2. Evening: draw rangoli or alpana at the entrance and place small lamps at the door and windows.
3. After moonrise (5:07 PM in Hyderabad on 25 October; check your city): set up a picture of Lakshmi, light a ghee lamp and offer flowers, kumkum, rice and the kheer.
4. Chant the Lakshmi mantra and the opening verse of the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam below.
5. Offer water (arghya) to the moon with a prayer for your family.
6. Keep a vigil as long as you comfortably can with bhajans, stories or the Lakshmir Panchali, then share the prasad.

No materials? Light one lamp, offer a flower in your heart, look up at the moon for a minute in silent prayer, and share something sweet with someone. That is a true Kojagari.

Lakshmi prayers

A short Lakshmi mantra (Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah):

ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥

oṃ śrīṃ mahālakṣmyai namaḥ||

The first verse of the Mahalakshmi Ashtakam:

नमस्तेऽस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते ।
शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ १॥

namaste'stu mahāmāye śrīpīṭhe surapūjite |
śaṅkhacakragadāhaste mahālakṣmi namo'stu te || 1||

Meaning: Salutations to you, Mahamaya, seated on the throne of Shri and worshipped by the gods; O Mahalakshmi, holding the conch, discus and mace, salutations to you.

These are prayers of devotion and gratitude; they are not a promise of wealth. Our Lakshmi Puja vidhi 2026 guide has more.

Hindus abroad: Sharad Purnima 2026

• The full moon falls at a single moment worldwide, but the local date of the full-moon night and the moonrise time depend on your time zone.
• Because of this, temples in different countries may choose different nights for the Kojagari vigil. Ask your temple which night it follows.
• Use your local moonrise for the puja and the kheer, and never convert Indian times to your local clock.
• Drik Panchang's city pages give Sunday 25 October for the UK, the US East Coast, Chicago and Toronto, and Saturday 24 October for Houston, Dallas, Calgary and the West Coast (the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver). The difference comes from when Purnima falls at local midnight; see our Sharad Purnima 2026 USA, UK and Canada guide for moonrise and Kojagara Nishita times by city.
• Both dates fall on a weekend in 2026, so many temple and community gatherings will be on the festival night itself.
• In cold climates, keep the kheer on a covered windowsill instead of outside, and bring it in after a short while.

After Sharad Purnima, the next big observances are Karwa Chauth and Diwali; see the Karwa Chauth 2026 moonrise guide and the Diwali 2026 5-day guide.

Health note on fasting and the night vigil

Fasting and staying awake are devotional choices, not obligations. Pregnant or nursing women, the elderly, children and anyone with diabetes, low blood pressure or another medical condition should eat normally and consult a doctor before fasting. A short vigil with a lamp and a prayer is as complete as an all-night one. Drink water, and do not drive after a sleepless night.

Frequently asked questions

When is Sharad Purnima in 2026?

Drik Panchang (Hyderabad) lists Sharad Purnima, Kojagara Puja and the Ashwina Purnima Vrat on Sunday 25 October 2026. Purnima tithi begins at 11:55 AM IST that day and ends at 9:41 AM IST on Monday 26 October, so the full-moon night is the night of the 25th.

Why is Ashwina Purnima listed on 26 October?

Purnima is the tithi at sunrise on Monday 26 October, so observances that follow the sunrise tithi, such as the Purnima bath and charity, Valmiki Jayanti and Meerabai Jayanti, are listed that day. The night vigil and moonlit kheer belong to the 25th, when Purnima covers the moonrise and midnight.

What does Kojagari mean?

Kojagari comes from 'Ko jagarti?', 'Who is awake?'. It is traditionally believed that Goddess Lakshmi moves about on this full-moon night asking who is awake, and blesses homes where people keep a devoted vigil.

Is it safe to keep kheer under the moon all night?

Cover the kheer with a fine cloth or mesh and keep it in a clean, raised spot. Milk dishes should not stand at room temperature for many hours, especially in warm weather, so many families keep it out for a while after moonrise and then refrigerate it, or eat it the same night. People with diabetes should take only a small portion or use a suitable sweetener.

What is Raas Purnima?

In the Bhagavata tradition, Sharad Purnima is the night of Krishna's Raas Lila with the gopis of Vrindavan. Krishna devotees, especially in Braj and in Vaishnava temples, celebrate it as Raas Purnima with kirtan and special decorations.

When is Kumar Purnima in Odisha in 2026?

Our data places Kumar Purnima on Sunday 25 October 2026, with Sharad Purnima. Some Odia panjikas may list Monday 26 October, when Purnima prevails at sunrise, so follow the Odia panjika and the Odisha holiday list.

How should Hindus abroad decide the date?

It depends on your city. Drik Panchang's city pages give Sunday 25 October for the UK, the US East Coast, Chicago and Toronto, but Saturday 24 October for Houston, Dallas, Calgary and the US and Canadian West Coast. Use your city's moonrise, follow your temple, and do not convert Indian times to your clock.

Editor's note (18 October 2026)

On 18 October 2026 we corrected the Hindus abroad section, which earlier gave only 25 October: Drik Panchang's city pages put Sharad Purnima on Saturday 24 October in Houston, Dallas, Calgary and on the West Coast. This guide was updated in place on 10 October 2026 with Drik Panchang's tithi data for Hyderabad and fuller regional coverage. Regional calendars, such as Odia and Bengali panjikas, may differ by a day; follow your family calendar or temple.