Hindu festivals Kojagrat Purnima and Lakshmi Puja observed across South Asia

Devotees across Nepal, India, and Bangladesh are observing Kojagrat Purnima (also known as Kojagari Purnima or Sharad Purnima), a significant Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity.

In Nepal, the festival marks the conclusion of the 15-day Dashain festival. Devotees perform evening worship and maintain an all-night vigil, believing the goddess visits homes to bestow blessings. The conclusion of Dashain also marks the end of the tradition of receiving tika and jamara.

In India, particularly in Odisha, the celebrations include Gajalakshmi Puja, featuring elaborate pandals and silver tableaux. In Odisha, the festival of Kumar Purnima is also observed by unmarried women, who perform rituals to seek blessings for virtuous life partners. In other regions, Sharad Purnima traditions include placing kheer under moonlight to absorb its perceived spiritual potency.

In Bangladesh, Bengali Hindus celebrate Lakshmi Puja on this auspicious full-moon night, seeking abundance and good fortune through traditional household rituals.