Harvest full moon; Goddess Lakshmi walks earth; Kheer left in moonlight

Sharad Purnima is the full moon of Ashwin, the brightest and most celebrated full moon of the year. It is the only night on which the moon is said to shine with all sixteen kalas (phases of perfection), and its rays are believed to carry amrita, a healing nectar. Families prepare kheer of rice and milk and leave it in the open moonlight through the night, eating it at dawn as prasad for health and vitality. In Braj it is Raas Purnima, the night on which Krishna played the Maha Raas with the gopis on the banks of the Yamuna in Vrindavan, multiplying himself so that each gopi danced with him — a night of divine love celebrated in the Bhagavata Purana. In Maharashtra it is Kojagiri Purnima, with saffron-cardamom milk shared under the moon; in Odisha it is Kumar Purnima, when unmarried girls worship the moon and Kartikeya for a good husband; and in Bengal it is Kojagori Lakshmi Puja. Lakshmi is believed to roam the earth, blessing those who are awake. The day also marks the traditional beginning of the Kartik snan, the month of holy bathing.

Many fast through the day and break the fast after Chandra arghya.