As per Hindu traditions, the full moon day or Purnima tithi is considered an auspicious occasion. When a full moon occurs in the month of Ashwin, it is referred to as Sharad Purnima. In India’s wester region, people celebrate this day by making doodh paak, which is basically kheer made of rice that is distributed as prasad. In Gujarat, Garba dance is performed under the bright moonlight.

In the eastern belt, it is also known as Kojagari Purnima; and on this day, people worship Goddess Lakshmi in this region. This year, Sharad Purnima is on October 28. As per Pandit Kalki Ram, on the full moon day, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped following certain rituals. If devotees want blessings of the Goddess, they should try these simple remedies on the day of Purnima. This will please the Goddess and remove all kinds of problems from the devotees’ lives.

Pandit Kalki Ram recommends reciting the Lakshmi Stotra on the day of Sharad Purnima. Before this, one must take a bath in the evening and then place the Goddess Lakshmi idol on a red cloth. Then the idol should be worshipped with utmost devotion; after this, the Lakshmi Stotra should be recited. It is believed that doing this will appease the Goddess and all the money-related worries go away. According to Hindu tradition, Goddess Lakshmi is known as the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

According to Pandit Kalki Ram, if one offers the betel leaf of Goddess Lakshmi on this day, then one may get special blessings. The betel leaf should then be accepted as Prasad.

Just like in Gujarat, several states, especially in Northern India, make rice kheer on this auspicious day. As per religious beliefs, on this night, nectar or Amrit — which is considered to be the elixir of Gods — drips from the Moon on the kheer. Hence, it is considered to have healing powers. It is offered as a prasad to the Goddess the next morning, which is then distributed as prasad.