Sharad Purnima, also called Kojagari Purnima, is associated with which goddess?

Sharad Purnima, the full moon night of the month of Ashvin (September-October), is associated with Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. It marks the end of the monsoon and the beginning of autumn (sharad ritu), and it falls a few days after Dussehra.

According to popular belief, on the night of Sharad Purnima, Goddess Lakshmi travels across the earth and asks "Ko jagarti?" ("Who is awake?"). She blesses with wealth and prosperity those who are awake and worshipping her. That is why the festival is also called Kojagari Purnima or Kojagara Puja, and devotees stay awake through the night, playing games and singing. In West Bengal, Odisha and Assam, it is celebrated as the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, which is the main Lakshmi Puja of the year in Bengali homes.

Sharad Purnima is believed to be the only night of the year when the moon shines with all its sixteen phases (kalas) and is closest to the earth. People believe that the moonlight on this night has healing and nourishing properties. So people prepare kheer (rice pudding with milk) and leave it in the moonlight overnight, and eat it the next morning as prasad. Many people fast on this day.

The night is also linked with Lord Krishna, who is believed to have performed the Maha Raas, his divine dance with the gopis, on the night of Sharad Purnima in Vrindavan. It is therefore celebrated with special devotion in the Braj region. In Gujarat, the night is celebrated with Garba dancing. In Odisha, it is celebrated as Kumar Purnima, when young girls pray for good husbands.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami.
• ✗Goddess Durga is worshipped during Navratri and Durga Puja.
• ✗Goddess Parvati is worshipped during festivals such as Teej and Gangaur.