Jaipur to celebrate Sharad Purnima today

29 October, 2012

The Pink City of Jaipur is going to celebrate Sharad Purnima today with special prayers of Gajalaxmi at famous Govind Devji temple during the day and free 'kheer' or milk-rice pudding distribution during the night.

THE SHARAD Purnima festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashvin with joy and festivity in Rajasthan. In most Hindu houses, the traditional celebration of the moon on the onset of winter is observed with preparation of kheer with nuts on this day. The cool kheer is consumed out in the moonlight with joy and festivity.

Since this 'purnima' or full moon comes during 'sharad ritu' or mild winter season of the year, hence it is called 'sharad purnima'. On this day, in temples and at homes, goddess Gaja Laxmi is worshiped and night vigil is observed. It is also believed that on this day as moon and the earth being close, the moon rays nourishing the body and the soul by praying in the moonlight. In the temple compounds, people sit in the moonlight singing devotional songs.

Gujratis in Jaipur celebrate the festival by doing Garba and Raas, while Bengalis observe 'Lokkhi Pujo' by arranging several dishes called 'bhog' and 'upachar' for mother goddess Lakshmi on this day. For the Oriya community in Jaipur, it is the day of rejoicing by girls who sing, dance and play Puchi game. Kartikeya, the son of Shiva who was born on this day, is worshipped by them.

Those who are unable to prepare kheer, they have cool milk and rice flakes on this night. In Jaipur, Gujarati people celebrate the day by doing Garba and Raas.

However, the deep spiritual aspect of the celebration is that the seeker, suffused with lunar resplendence, should purify his or her in-self by rising above the body-consciousness to imbibe soul-consciousness.