Śharad Pūrṇimā is also known as Kojāgari Pūnam which is celebrated on Aso sud –Pūrṇimā. The belief is that Lakṣhmi, the goddess of wealth moves around in the sky at night asking “Ko Jāgarthi” (Who is awake?) searching for people who are awake and gives them wealth. There are some stories associated with this festival. In ancient times, there lived a poor Brahmin named Valitha lived in Magadhha dheśha(Bengal). He was an educated, virtuous man whereas his wife was very mean and she quarreled with him all the time acting against his wishes. Once, when he was performing his father’s Śhrāddha, she threw the piṇḍa (ball of wheat flour) into a sewage pit which has to be actually dipped in the sacred Gaṅgā as a part of the ritual. This annoyed Valitha that he decided to renounce his home and went in search of wealth to satisfy his wife. In the forests he met Nāgakanyās (girls of Kāliya Nāga’s ancestry). These Nāgakanyās had performed the Kojāgari Vratha that day and set to gamble with Valitha. He lost everything and at that moment Goddess Lakṣhmi happened to pass by. Since, Valitha had stayed awake that night incidentally coinciding the Vratha, Goddess blessed him with the handsome look as similar to Kāmadheva (deity of love).This attracted the Nāgakanyās and they married him, gifting all their wealth. He returned home with his riches and he was welcomed warmly by his wife and they lived happily. It is also said that on this night, Lord Kriṣhṇa invited Gopis of Vrundhāvan to play the Mahā Rās (traditional folk dance) with him. They had earned his grace by overlooking society’s disdain on them to offer him unalloyed devotion. When they left their homes and came to visit Lord Krishna, he wanted to test their love for him hence he said ‘Women of character such as you, should not leave home to meet another man in the middle of the night!' Grieved by this statement women replied 'Our feet will not budge the slightest from your lotus- feet. So how can we return to Vraj?' Pleased with their devotion, Lord took so many physical forms to accompany the Gopis. At that point, Gopis felt that no one else could excel their devotion failing to accept Mahā Rās as the Lord’s grace. Their ego marred their devotion thus Lord Krishna immediately vanished from the place. The festival symbolizes that just as night sky of Śharadh Pūnam is clear with the bright moon, aspirant must purify his anthahkaraṇa .On this day, Dhūdh –Pauva (rice soaked in milk) is offered to God. Later this Prasādha, is distributed to the devotees. The health attribute of this Prasādha is that it corrects any disturbance in pittha.