PARV 20 OF 30 · ASHWIN

Kojagara (Sharad Purnima)

कोजागरा

Ashwin Purnima (October)

"कोजागरा के मखान, चान के किरण में खीर"

Katha · The story

Why we keep it

Ko jagarti, who is awake? On the full-moon night of Ashwin, Lakshmi walks the earth asking that question, and enters the house where someone is awake and the lamp is lit. The moon tonight has all sixteen kalas and its rays are amrit, so kheer is left under it till midnight and eaten in the morning. In Mithila the night belongs to the newly married groom: his bride's naihar sends a load of makhana, batasha, paan, dahi and sweets, he sits in the courtyard in new clothes and the whole tola is fed from the gift.

The elders say Kojagara is the night the gods decide who will be rich this year, and the way to be chosen is to feed the neighbours.

Mahatva · Significance

What it means

It is the Maithil Lakshmi Puja and harvest moon, honouring the prosperity that the new rice and the new marriage bring. The makhana, grown in the ponds of Mithila, is the festival's own food.

"कोजागरा के रात, लक्ष्मी पूछथि, के जागल?"
A line everyone at the festival knows

Vidhi · How it is done in Malinagar

Step by step

  1. Lakshmi puja at dusk, the house lit, the courtyard decorated with aripan.
  2. Kheer in a clay pot left under the open sky till midnight.
  3. In a house with a new groom: the naihar's gift received, the groom seated for the chumaon, and makhana and paan distributed to every house in the tola.
  4. Staying awake through the night with games of chausar or cards, which is the only night the elders allow it.

Bhojan · What is eaten

Makhana (fox-nut) roasted and in kheer, batasha, paan, dahi, and the moon-kheer eaten at dawn.

Yaad rakhiye · Good to know

If your son married this year, every house in the tola is counting on your makhana.

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