WHEN: Ashwin/ Asoj (September/ October)

The first full moon day of the month of Ashwin is known as Sharad Purnima. It is also referred to as Rasa Purnima.

How:

On this day, prasad of kheer and puri are made. After an offering to God, the kheer is kept on the roof of the house. It is believed that nectar flows from the rays of the full moon in to the kheer. Next day people eat this as prasad.

Some people thread a needle on this full moon night under the rays of the moon. This is said to improve one’s eyesight.

Preparation for the puja

• Kheer made out of cow’s milk, puri
• White clothes for the idols of the Gods
• One pata, one kalash with water
• Wheat kernels in a katori, roli-chawal

Method of performing the puja

• On a pata place a kalash filled with water and the katori with wheat kernels in it.
• A swastik, is made with roli on the kalash and katori.
• Puja is done with roli and chawal.
• Keeping 13 kernels of wheat in the hand we listen to the story of Sharad Purnima.
• With joined hands we go over the katori of wheat in circles thrice as a mark of respect.
• This is later given to the Mishrani who narrates the story.
• At night the water in the kalash is offered to the moon.

Sharad Purnima Ki Katha

There was a Sahukaar who had two daughters. Both the sisters used to keep the purnima (full moon) fast. The older sister used to observe the entire fast while the younger sister used to observe it only in part. Because of this the younger sister’s children used to die as soon as they were born. Unable to understand the reason of her children’s death, she consulted many pundits. They all told her that because she did not observe the purnima fast completely her children did not live. Taking their advice, the younger sister observed the purnima fast and followed it completely. After some time, a son was born to her but he also did not survive. The younger sister put the baby of the son on a peedha (stool) covered it with a cloth and invited her sister to sit on it. Not knowing about the child, the sister lowered herself on to the stool. As soon as she touched the body, the child came to life and started crying. Startled, the older sister accosted the younger sister for making her commit a sin of killing the boy. The younger sister explained everything and told her that it was because of the older sister’s punya that the boy has been brought back to life.

Purnima Mata, as you blessed the younger sister, so also bless the narrator of the katha, the listeners of the katha and the followers of the katha with their families.

Bindaayakji /Ganeshji ki Katha is read after one reads the festival katha. A few grains of rice are kept in the hand while listening to the katha. After completion of the katha, the rice grains are left in the water of the kalash, kept for puja. 

Bindaayakji (Shri Ganesh) ki Katha (1)

There was a blind old woman who had a son and a daughter-in-law. The old woman used to worship Ganeshji everyday and everytime Ganeshji would encourage her to seek a boon. Everyday she would say “I don’t know how to ask” and Ganeshji would respond “Take advice from your son and daughter-in-law”. The old woman asked her son as to what she should ask from Ganeshji. The son advised her to ask for lots of wealth. Not satisfied with this, she went to her daughter-in-law. The daughter-in-law requested her to ask for a grandson. Still not satisfied, she went to her neighbour. The neighbour told her that she should request Ganeshji for good health. The old woman was still not completely satisfied. She wanted to please everyone. Next day Ganeshji again told her to ask for a boon. The old woman said, “I should be able to see my grandson drinking milk from a cup made of gold”. Ganeshji said, “You are a very wise woman. In one wish you have asked for everything.” Saying this Ganeshji disappeared and the old woman got wealth for her son, a child for her daughter-in-law and eye-sight and good health for herself.

Bindaayakji, as you have blessed the old woman, so also bless the narrator of the katha, the listeners of the katha and the followers of the katha along with their families.

Bindaayakji (Shri Ganesh) ki Katha (2)

A young boy had a fight with his family and left his home saying he will return only after meeting Ganeshji. As the boy reached a dense forest, Ganeshji thought to himself that the boy has left home taking his name, so no wild animal should harm him. Ganeshji took the form of an old Brahmin and went to the boy. He asked the boy as to where he was going? The boy replied that he was going to meet Ganeshji. The Brahmin told the boy that he was Ganeshji and told him to ask for one boon. The boy thought for a while and then said, “I would like to have lots of wealth and sumptuous food served to me by a girl who is as beautiful as a rose flower”. Ganeshji said, “You will get whatever you have desired”. On reaching home, to his delight, the boy found a beautiful young girl in a palatial home waiting for him with sumptuous food. The boy told his parents that he got all this wealth with the blessings of Ganeshji.

Bindaayakji , as you blessed the boy, so also bless the narrator of the katha, the listeners of the katha and the followers of the katha along with their families.

Bindaayakji (Shri Ganesh) ki Katha (3)

Bindaayakji, in the guise of a man, went around with a few grains of rice and a spoonful of milk requesting one and all to make kheer for him. Everyone laughed at him and said it was not possible to make kheer with such little quantity. Finally one old woman agreed to make the kheer. She got a very small vessel to cook. Bindaayakji asked her to bring a large vessel. The old woman got a big kadhai. As soon as she put the kadhai on fire and poured the spoonful of milk with rice in it, the kadhai became full. Bindaayakji told the old woman to make kheer and keep it ready till he came back.

The kheer was ready but there was no sign of Bindaayakji. The old woman got tempted to eat the kheer. She took out a bowlfull of kheer, cooled it. She hid behind the door, saying, “Jai Bindaayakji” offered it as prasad to Bindaayakji and ate it. When Bindaayakji came back, the old woman offered the kheer to Him. Bindaayakji said that He had already eaten the kheer when she had offered it to Him as prasad. Bindaayakji blessed the old woman with lots of wealth that would last her for her seven generations.

Bindaayakji, as you have blessed the old woman, so also bless the narrator of the katha, the listeners of the katha and the followers of the katha along with their families.