Sharad Purnima 2024: Why it is the perfect time to manifest anything

Sharad Purnima, an important day in Hindu beliefs and rituals, is celebrated on the full moon night in the Hindu month of Ashwin. According to the English calendar, Sharad Purnima falls in the middle or end of October month. In 2024, Sharad Purnima will be observed on October 16, Wednesday, and it will be a bright, full moon illuminating the whole of India. The night of Sharad Purnima is also celebrated as the night ‘Raas Leela’, as it is said that Lord Krishna did his divine dance with Radha and the gopis of Vrindavan on this night.

According to Drik Panchang, in 2024, Sharad Purnima will start on “Purnima Tithi starts - October 16, 2024 at 08:40 PM and the Full moon date ends - on October 17, 2024, at 04:55 PM”.
The night of October 16th will be the best time to observe the rituals, especially making the Purnima kheer and keeping it under the full moon.

Sharad Purnima is considered to be one of the most powerful nights of the year where ‘Chandra dev’ or the Moon God is in his full might. Sharad Purnima is dedicated to both Lord Vishnu and the Moon God, and it is said that their energies are at their peak during this night. According to beliefs, the moon rays on Sharad Purnima have special powers, and soaking in the moonlight helps in improving health, having better mental clarity, and also is the perfect time to wish for the right things.Along with the moon’s power, Goddess Lakshmi is also honoured on Sharad Purnima. The Kojagari vrat on this day is kept with the belief that Maa Lakshmi roams the Earth on the night of Sharad Purnima and blesses the devotees who pray to her with utmost devotion.

The rituals for Sharad Purnima are similar to many Indian festivals and observances. People keep the Purnima fast, which is usually a Nirjala vrat, and break their fast with the ‘kheer’ prepared during the evening and then kept under the moonlight for hours. The rituals start with devotees waking up early on the Purnima day and then cleaning the home temple after taking a bath with some Gangajal. After the cleansing, the daily puja is done along with a recitation of Satyanarayan vrat katha. Then the devotee fasts through the day, abstaining from food (and water if chosen Nirjala vrat) and spends the day in devotion by listening to hymns and mantras. During the evening, a ‘rice kheer’ is prepared which is then kept under the moonlight for at least 2 hours. Some devotees also stay up all night on Sharad Purnima, especially those who believe in the Kojagiri vrat.

The preparation of kheer is an important part of Sharad Purnima rituals. It is a simple rice kheer made with pure cow milk, rice, sugar, and some cardamom. There are no ‘essences’ or extracts put in the kheer as it is believed that it should be in the purest form. Once the evening puja is done, the devotee places the kheer in an open container and leaves it outside under the moonlight. The belief is that the moon's rays on Sharad Purnima are so strong and healing that they infuse the kheer with positive energy.

The tradition of keeping the kheer under the moonlight has been in place for decades now. The moonlight on Sharad Purnima night has a cooling, calming, and healing effect, and when the prepared kheer is exposed to this light, it is thought to absorb the moon’s nourishing energy. The cooling effect of the moon then helps to balance the body’s energy in people who eat it as ‘prasad’ and also helps in overall well-being.

A common thing that people do while keeping the Kheer under the moonlight is that they blow their intentions into the kheer. And while this will sound illogical to some people, the powerful night of Sharad Purnima is actually considered perfect to let the Universe know about your manifestations. While preparing the kheer, and then before keeping it under the moonlight, many devotees close their eyes and focus on the energy of the moon and the bright positivity that the moonlight emits. And with their eyes closed, they set an intention. For example ‘This Sharad Purnima I believe that I will land a successful job soon’. And with the intention in place, they then keep the kheer under the moonlight for at least 2 hours or the whole night and then eat it with positivity in their heart in the morning.

To spend the day and remain awake during the night on Sharad Purnima, certain mantras can be chanted to keep the mind awake and positive. The mantra ‘Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya’ can be chanted to please Lord Vishnu. The chant of ‘Hare Ram, Hare Krishna’ can be done to please Lord Krishna, who is an avatar of Lord Vishnu, and helps spread love through his Raas leela on the night. Mantras dedicated to Maa Lakshmi can also be chanted during the night by people who keep the Kojagiri vrat.