Kojagara or Kojagari

Besides Diwali, in some regions a festival called "Kojagara" is also celebrated to propitiate the Goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi. This festival is observed on the night of full moon in the month of Ashwina. "Kojagara ", literally means the night of awakening. It is also a festival of Goddess Lakshmi who descends on the earth on this auspicious night to bless all with health and prosperity. This is one of the most important festivals of Central India, particularly the Budelkand region and in some part of Bihar, particularly Darbanga region.

This ceremony owes its origin to the Kojagari Purnima Vrat sacred to the Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Indra on this night. The ritual is to fast the whole day and after worshipping Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Indra at night break their fasts by offering coconut water and flattened rice to the Gods. It seems on this Kojagari night Goddess Lakshmi visits every house asking "Ko Jagarti" meaning `who is awake' to ascertain. And those who are awake Goddess Lakshmi blesses them with fortune and prosperity. To welcome Her, Houses, temples, streets etc. are illuminated.

This Kojagari Vrat or celebration coincides with the harvest festival. It is also called `Navanna' (new food) and from this day the new grain of the harvest is usually eaten. It is likely that the full moon shining with its beauty in the pleasant Sharad 'ritu' must have given its importance and tempted people to meet together enjoying and feasting under the canopy of the magnificent moonlight, giving birth to a Festival.

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FIRST DAY:
Dhanatrayodashi | Yamadeepdaan | Dhan Teyras | Asweyuja Bahula Thrayodasi / Dhantheran
SECOND DAY:
Choti Diwali | Narkachaturdashi | Roop Chaturdashi | Kali Choudas | Mahanisha / Kali Puja | Divvela Panduga / Divili Panduga
THIRD DAY:
Laxmi Pujan | Chopda Pujan | Deva Divali | Sukhsuptika | Kaumudi Mahostavam | Badhausar | Balindra Pooja | Karthigai Deepam | Thalai Deepavali | Sharda Pujan | Bandi Chhor Diwas | Diyari
FORTH DAY:
Goverdhan puja | Bestavarsh | Gudi Padava | Varsha Pratipada/ Pratipad Padwa | Annakoot | Bali Padyam / Bali Pratipada | Muharat Pujan
FIFTH DAY:
Bhai Phota | Bhaubeej / Bhav-Bij | Bhai-Tika | Yamadwitheya / Bhathru Dwithiya | Gorehabba | Bhatri Ditya | Bhathru Dwithiya
RELATED FESTIVALS:
Kojagara | Labh Pancham | Tulsi Vivah

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