Sharad Purnima is a harvest festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin (September-October). The rainy season is over and the brightness of the full moon brings special joy.

This is a traditional celebration of the moon and is also called the Kaumudi celebration, Kaumudi meaning moonlight. The moon is believed to be close to the earth on this day and it is believed that moon’s rays contain nourishing elements. People believe that as the moon is nearest to the earth on the day and as moon’s rays has several curative properties it will be helpful to human beings. So people spend the evening under moonlight.

Some people believe that on this night Laxmi goes around from place to place asking, “Who is awake?” (“Kojagarti?”) and shows her pleasure on those she finds awake. Hence, the night is spent in festivity and various games of amusement, in honour of the goddess. So people sit in the moonlight singing songs, or keep themselves entertained in some other way. They fast from solid food and take only fluids like coconut water or milk. Milk is boiled until it thickens, and milk masala (called kheer, a readymade combination of dry fruits) is added to it and drunk. There is also a tradition to have cool milk and rice flakes on this night. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated throughout the country, particularly by Maharashtrians. The eldest child of the family is also honored on this day.

In the western state of Gujarat, the night is known as Sharad Poonam.  Popular belief is that the divine Raas Lila of Lord Krishna with Radha and Gopis happened on the Sharad Purnima night.In Gujarat people celebrate it by doing Garba and Raas.