Sharad Purnima night puja to Lakshmi; Goddess walks earth asking who is awake

Kojagara Puja, or Kojagori Lakshmi Puja, is the night-long worship of Goddess Lakshmi on Ashwin Purnima, observed especially in Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Bihar and Mithila. The name comes from the Goddess's question as she walks the earth on this full-moon night: Ko jagarti? — Who is awake? The Lingapurana and later vrat texts say that Lakshmi blesses with wealth and good fortune the homes where people stay awake in devotion, and passes by those that sleep. The puja is performed in the Nishita kaal, near midnight. In Bengal, women draw alpana of rice paste with Lakshmi's small footprints leading into the house, worship her on a painted clay plate (Lakshmi sara) or a basket of paddy (the Lakshmi jhanpi), and offer khichuri, narkel naru, moa and fruits; the conch is not blown loudly and the house is kept calm and bright. In Mithila, Kojagara is a grand celebration for the newly married: the bride's family sends makhana, paan, sweets and clothes to the groom, and makhana and betel are shared across the village. Many play board games through the night, keeping the jagaran.

Many women fast through the day and break the fast after the night puja.