'Narali Purnima', when fishermen offer coconuts to the sea, is celebrated on the full moon day of which month?

Narali Purnima, meaning "the full moon of the coconut" ("naral" means coconut in Marathi), is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Shravana (Shravana Purnima), usually in August, the same day as Raksha Bandhan. It is celebrated mainly by the fishing communities, such as the Kolis, along the coast of Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat.

Narali Purnima marks the end of the monsoon fishing ban and the beginning of the new fishing season. During the peak of the monsoon, the sea is very rough, and fishermen do not go out to sea, which also allows the fish to breed. On Narali Purnima, when the sea is believed to begin calming down, the fishermen worship the sea god, Varuna, and offer coconuts to the sea, praying for a safe and prosperous fishing season and for protection from the dangers of the sea. The coconut is regarded as a sacred offering because its three "eyes" are believed to represent the three eyes of Lord Shiva.

On this day, the fishing community dresses in colourful traditional clothes, and the men and women go in processions to the seashore, singing and dancing to the beat of drums. Their boats are decorated with flowers, flags and colourful paper, and they take them out to sea for the first time after the monsoon. The Koli dance, a lively folk dance of the fishing community, with movements that imitate the rowing of boats and the waves of the sea, is performed. Special dishes made of coconut, such as "narali bhat" (sweet coconut rice) and coconut ladoos, are prepared.

Shravana Purnima is celebrated in different ways across India. It is Raksha Bandhan in most of North India, Avani Avittam (Upakarma, the changing of the sacred thread by Brahmins) in South India, and Kajari Purnima in parts of central India.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Bhadrapada Purnima begins the Pitru Paksha.
• ✗Ashadha Purnima is Guru Purnima.
• ✗Kartika Purnima is Dev Deepawali and Guru Nanak Jayanti.