The coconut is traditionally cast into the sea at high tide, when the water is fullest. Local tide timing governs the ceremony more than tithi timing.
The timing follows the tide rather than the panchang.
Narali Purnima — fishermen of Maharashtra offer coconuts to the sea on Shravan Purnima to mark the start of fishing season.
Narali Purnima is the coconut full moon of the Konkan coast — Maharashtra, Goa and coastal Karnataka — when the fishing community offers a coconut to the sea and formally reopens the fishing season. Naral means coconut in Marathi. Through the monsoon months the sea has been too rough to fish, and this day marks the calming of the waters. The offering is made to Varuna, lord of the ocean, in thanks for the season past and in petition for safety in the one to come. Boats are washed, painted and garlanded; the community walks to the shore in procession, and the eldest fisherman casts the first coconut into the water. Families cook narali bhaat, the sweet coconut rice that gives the day its taste.
No fast is kept. This is a celebratory day. Fishing communities traditionally resume eating fish only after the sea has been formally worshipped.
Published
Never miss another vrat
You looked up Narali Purnima. The app tracks every festival after it.
- Every festival and vrat of the year in one calendar
- Muhurat and Rahu Kaal for your exact location
- A reminder the day before, so no tithi slips past
