Want Wealth and Good Fortune? Pray to Laxmi

This is the time to be praying to the Goddess Laxmi for her blessings. I am not Hindu, but this pagan is praying to this Goddess, as despite the past days' rain and lowering dark clouds, the moon light has managed to break through to illuminate my backyard just about bedtime the past few nights. It's awesome! Kojagiri Poornima: Auspicious occasion to offer prayer to Goddess Laxmi Published by: Sudhir Kumar Published: Sat, 03 Oct 2009 at 18:00 IST New Delhi: Celebration for the Kojagiri poornima has begun across Maharashtra today. The festival falls in the month of September or October every year. It is believed to be one of the auspicious occasions for offering prayers to the Goddess Laxmi. People believe that offering prayers to Goddess Laxmi on this particular occasion bring prosperity and richness. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi goes to everyone's place asking 'kojagiriti' that means ‘who is waking up'. Those found awaken are blessed with prosperity and wellness by the Goddess Laxmi. Another story goes behind its celebration. There was a famous and rich king. But his prosperity became a matter of past after all his wealth lost. His prudent queen worshipped Goddess Laxmi and kept waking throughout the night. Her worship pleased the Goddess Laxmi. By Goddess' grace, they got back their wealth and prosperity. More information about this harvest celebration: Sharad Poornima Kojagiri Poornima by pavan on October 2, 2009 Sharad Poornima is also known as Kojagari Poornima. Sharad Poornima is a harvest festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin (September-October). This is a traditional celebration of the moon and is also called the Kaumudi celebration, Kaumudi meaning moonlight. At night, goddess Laxmi is worshiped and night vigil is observed. According to a folk-tale, once a king fell on evil days, and was in great financial straits, but then his queen observed this fast and night vigil, and worshiped the goddess of wealth, Laxmi. Some people believe[who?] that on this night Laxmi moves about from place to place asking, “Who is awake?” (”Kojagarti?”). So people sit in the moonlight singing songs, or keep themselves entertained in some other way. They fast from solid food and take only fluids like coconut water or milk. According to the Vedic scriptures, the Divine Raas Lila of Lord Krishna with Radha and Gopis happened on the night of Sharad Poornima. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated throughout the country, particularly by Maharashtrians.