Sharad Purnima 2026: Date, Kheer in the Moonlight and Kojagari Lakshmi Puja

Some festivals are about lamps and noise. Sharad Purnima is about stillness. A full moon rises over the end of the monsoon, a bowl of kheer waits on a terrace, and in many homes someone stays awake past midnight for Goddess Lakshmi. Every year, though, the same practical question arrives first: which night is it, and when exactly does the moon rise?

Sharad Purnima 2026 falls on Sunday, 25 October. The Purnima tithi runs from 11:55 AM on 25 October to 9:41 AM on 26 October, so the moon worship, the kheer ritual and Kojagari Lakshmi Puja are all done on the night of 25 October. Moonrise is about 5:00 PM in Delhi, and the Delhi Nishita puja window is about 11:40 PM to 12:31 AM.

Sharad Purnima 2026 Date: Is It 25 or 26 October?

Because the Purnima tithi starts on the morning of 25 October and ends on the morning of 26 October, calendars sometimes list both dates. The deciding factor is the night: the full moon rises on the evening of 25 October, and the moon-based rituals and the midnight Lakshmi vigil belong to that night. Some households continue their observances into the morning of 26 October while the tithi lasts, so follow your family's Panchang if it differs.

Sharad Purnima 2026 Moonrise Time by City

On 25 October the moon rises between roughly 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM across India. These are approximate IST timings, with the Nishita (midnight) window for Kojagara Lakshmi Puja:

Delhi: moonrise about 5:00 PM; Nishita puja about 11:40 PM to 12:31 AM

Mumbai: moonrise about 5:28 PM; Nishita puja about 11:58 PM to 12:47 AM

Kolkata: moonrise about 4:21 PM; Nishita puja about 10:56 PM to 11:44 PM

Chennai: moonrise about 5:04 PM; Nishita puja about 11:29 PM to 12:17 AM

Bengaluru: moonrise about 5:14 PM; Nishita puja about 11:39 PM to 12:27 AM

Hyderabad: moonrise about 5:06 PM; Nishita puja about 11:36 PM to 12:25 AM

Sources differ by a minute or two, and timings shift slightly within a city, so check the HiAstro Panchang for your location.

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Why Is Kheer Kept Under the Moon on Sharad Purnima?

According to tradition, the moon is at its fullest and brightest on Sharad Purnima, shining with all sixteen kalas, or phases of perfection, and its rays are believed to carry healing, nourishing qualities. Kheer set out in that light is considered blessed, and eaten as prasad the next morning.

There is a seasonal logic many families also point to. Sharad marks the shift from monsoon to autumn, which Ayurveda associates with rising body heat, and a cooling dish of milk, rice and sugar suits it well. This is a traditional rationale, not a scientific claim, but it explains why the ritual feels so natural.

How to Keep Kheer in the Moonlight: Step by Step

- Prepare fresh kheer with milk, rice, sugar, cardamom and dry fruits. Many families use cow's milk.

- Let it cool completely before setting it out.

- Cover it with a thin muslin cloth or a fine mesh lid, so moonlight reaches the bowl but insects, dust and bird droppings do not. This is the most important hygiene step.

- Place it in a clean spot where the moon is visible, such as a terrace, balcony or open window, after moonrise.

- Bring it in before sunrise, or after the midnight puja if you prefer.

- Share it as prasad with family and neighbours.

Food safety matters. Milk-based dishes spoil easily, especially in warm cities and when left out for many hours. A sensible compromise, which many families follow, is to keep the kheer in moonlight for a few hours, then refrigerate it and eat it the next day. If the sky is cloudy, tradition says the ritual still counts, since the intention matters, not visibility.

What Is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja?

In Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Mithila, Sharad Purnima is known as Kojagari Purnima. The word means "who is awake?", recalling the belief that Goddess Lakshmi descends to earth on this night and blesses those who are awake and devout.

In Bengali homes, the evening begins with cleaning and decorating the house, and drawing alpana, delicate rice-paste patterns, including little footprints leading to the puja space. Families worship Lakshmi in the evening or at the midnight Nishita window, offering fruit, payesh (rice pudding) and naru, coconut sweets. Many stay awake through the night, singing, playing games and sharing food.

Customs vary across regions. In Mithila the night is called Kojagra and carries its own traditions, and in many other parts of India the same full moon is known as Raas Purnima, in honour of Lord Krishna's Maha Raas, or Kumara Purnima in Odisha.

Celebrating Sharad Purnima Abroad or Without a Terrace

Diaspora families can follow the same ritual wherever the moon is visible. For most countries, the night of Sunday, 25 October in your local time is the right one, but moonrise differs from the IST figures above, so use a local moonrise time from a trusted calendar or app. If you live in an apartment without a balcony, place the covered kheer by a window where moonlight reaches it, or simply offer it to the moon with a short prayer and then refrigerate it. A diya, a prayer to Lakshmi, and shared kheer are entirely meaningful.

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A Balanced Note on Moonlight and Kheer

The belief that moonlight turns kheer into a medicine is a traditional one, and there is no scientific evidence for it. The ritual's real value is simpler: a quiet evening, a shared sweet, and time spent outdoors under a full moon. Health and food safety come first, especially for children, pregnant women and older relatives. If something doesn't feel right to eat, skip it. The prayer is the point.

Make the Full Moon Personal

The full moon night is also read in Vedic astrology as a time when the Moon, the planet of mind and emotion, is at its strongest, which is why many people use it for reflection and prayer. If you'd like to know how the Moon sits in your own chart and what it means for this season, speak with an astrologer on HiAstro for personal guidance on Sharad Purnima 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is Sharad Purnima 2026?

Sharad Purnima 2026 falls on Sunday, 25 October. The Purnima tithi runs from 11:55 AM on 25 October to 9:41 AM on 26 October, and the rituals are done on the night of 25 October.

2. What time is moonrise on Sharad Purnima 2026?

It is about 5:00 PM in Delhi, 5:28 PM in Mumbai, 4:21 PM in Kolkata, 5:04 PM in Chennai, 5:14 PM in Bengaluru and 5:06 PM in Hyderabad. Check a local Panchang for your city.

3. What time should I keep kheer under the moon?

After moonrise on 25 October, and bring it in before sunrise on 26 October. Keep it covered with a thin cloth or mesh.

4. Can we eat the kheer kept in moonlight?

Traditionally it is eaten as prasad the next morning. For food safety, many families keep it out for a few hours and then refrigerate it. Skip it if it smells or tastes off.

5. What is the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja time in 2026?

In Delhi, the Nishita puja window is about 11:40 PM on 25 October to 12:31 AM on 26 October. Kolkata's window is earlier, about 10:56 PM to 11:44 PM.

6. What does Kojagari mean?

It means "who is awake?" in Bengali, based on the belief that Lakshmi visits on this night and blesses those who stay awake.

7. What if the moon isn't visible because of clouds?

Many priests say the ritual still counts. Set the kheer out at the usual time and offer your prayers, since the intention matters more than visibility.