Kojagari Lakshmi Puja: the full-moon night of Lakshmi

Kojagari Lakshmi Puja on Sharad Purnima, the full moon after Bijoya Dashami: what ko jagarti means, alpana and footprints, the home puja, bhog and the story.

Offerings laid out for Kojagari Lakshmi Puja in a Bengali home. Photo: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.

What "Kojagari" means

The name is usually explained as the Sanskrit ko jagarti, "who is awake?".

Alpana drawn at the doorstep in rice paste and chalk water. Photo: Shonamug, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Preparing the home

Preparation starts the day before or in the morning:

Clay diyas lit for Diwali. Photo: Alokjain19883105, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

The household puja

Families worship Lakshmi in different forms. Some use a clay idol, often showing her seated on a lotus with her owl.

Idols take shape in a workshop lane at Kumartuli, north Kolkata. Photo: Pinakpani, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Bhog: khichuri, naru and more

Lakshmi Puja bhog is simple and homely.

Khichuri with fried vegetables, offered as bhog in a Bengali home. Photo: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.

The story

The vrata katha (story of the vow) is told in several versions. In a commonly heard one, a king promises to buy any goods left unsold in his market and so ends up buying an image of Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune.

Sabudana khichdi, a common Navratri fasting food. Photo: Mrudit161187, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Visiting and Bijoya

Bijoya visits, with pranam to elders and sweets for guests, often continue up to Lakshmi Puja, and in many homes it is the last big gathering of the Pujo season.

Offerings laid out for Kojagari Lakshmi Puja in a Bengali home. Photo: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.