Kojagiri Poornima-A Shower of Nectar!!!

Every year the day of Kojagiri purnima takes me back to my childhood times. Our growing years and occasions which  we celebrate during our childhood days always have a great impact throughout our life.
Nowadays due to social media we get intimation of each and every festival in advance.  But few years back when social media was not in existence and life was very simple ,but still people used to notice lunar calender and panchang regularly . Our mother or grandmother never forgot to celebrate these important occasions . I remember we used to stay awake whole night listening to different stories related with Kojagiri/Sharad  Purnima.

The Sharad Purnima concerns worship of Hindi Goddess of wealth Lakshmi as it is believed to be her Birthday. Sharad Purnima is also known as Kojagiri Purnima mainly is Maharashtra and neighbouring states .
It is believed that on this  day ,The moon showers Amrit or elixir of life of the earth.
The moonlight of Sharad Purnima is believed to possess amazing medical and nourishing properties. It is said that by staying awake throughout the night on this day under the moonlight is believed to rejuvenate the body. People make kheer or sweet milk and place it under the open sky to absorb the moonlight throughout the night and then consume it to get the miraculous powers of moonlight for health and happiness.

When I was in second standard I remember celebrating Kojagiri at my grandparents house. The whole family  gathered together on the terrace ,where we had dinner, sweetened milk and chatted till very late in the night. And then  we slept on the terrace that night...starring the beautiful big moon and listening to the stories.
There are so many mythological stories and beliefs related with the celebrations of Sharad Purnima.

But I always remember one fictional story which we used to hear from our grandmother,  which is a folk story about Kojagiri. I would like to share it here.
It was a story about a Fisherman(koli ) and his wife .So this fisherman was a very honest and simple person. He and his wife were big moon worshippers. after many years of marriage they didn't have any kids . Fishermans wife would always go to the sea shore during moonlight and sit there for a long time. Her eyes would welled up with tears thinking about a child. It continued till very long time. One day it was a Kojagiri Purnima when she prays Lord Moon for a long time and then goes back to home and sleeps. She gets a dream in which she sees  Lord Moon happy with her worship and tells her that he is sending his own daughter on the earth for them on the same Kojagiri night near the sea where she sits every time and he also says that his daughter will stay with them for 14 years after that they will have to send her back to the Moonland . He takes a promise from her in the dream. Fishermans wife gets awake from her dream and tells her husband about it..he gets surprised but she tells him that they should go to the sea shore and see once...so they go there in the midnight of the Kojagiri Purnima and  couldn't believe their eyes,they see a very beautiful and fair baby girl in the sand.  Her beauty was exceptional, her white skin was glowing the beaming moonlight. Fishermans wife happily takes her in her arms and thanks Lord Moon million of times in her prayers. They keep her name "Koji" in the rememberence of Kojagiri night . Everyone in the Fishermans town gets happy to know about their baby girl. People would drop their jaws after seeing the beauty of Koji. Day by day she was getting more beautiful. Fisherman and his wife couldn't believe their destiny ,Koji was their heart and soul. She had a moon like charm and was a very sweet loving girl. Sometimes fishermans wife would get upset thinking how  she would live without Koji after 14 years. But Koji would try to console her.Everyone in the Fisherman's town loved koji as their daughter. Time passes and finally the day comes when Koji turns 14 years old on the same Kojagiri Day. In night everyone gathers to bid adieu to Koji with heavy heart. Fisherman and his wife couldn't control their tears ,Koji calmly consoles them that she is equally sad but she has to go back to her Moonland to her Father. But they couldn't let her go..everyone is their town get upset. After seeing their grief and listening to their prayers  Koji promises them that she would come to meet them on earth every year on the same Kojagiri night if they happily celebrate this beautiful day with enthusiasm and spirit. And then she gets dissapeard. After that every year all people of Koliwada (fishermans town) would gather and celebrate Kojagiri festival to meet their Favourite Koji .
It was such a beautiful but sad story. Every year on this day I remember this story.Whenever i see the Moon on Kojagiri i try to see the hidden moonland of my dream and Koji in it. Although it was a fictional story but it certainly holds an important place in my memories.Even today when I will  narrate it to my kids I know I'll go nostalgic.
I am sure each one you must be having your memories and stories associated with Sharad Purnima. It is true that the brightness of the full moon brings special joy and happiness.
Wishing you all a very happy any Joyous Kojagiri Purnima!!