Resonance with Divinity – Kojagiri Pournima : Awake to the Abundance of Life

By Dr. Anupama Vaidya (hc)

There is something about a full moon that makes me pause and look up. Watching that perfect, golden-orange orb rise slowly in the evening sky feels special each time. A heavenly presence whose beauty never quite becomes familiar, however often we see it.

And then there are full moon nights that hold an added significance, carrying stories, traditions and meanings that deepen our connection with them. Today is one such night – Sharad Pournima, fondly celebrated as Kojagiri Pournima.

My memories of Kojagiri take me back to my childhood days – perhaps one of the little joys of being on the other side of fifty! I remember the aroma of saffron rising from the masala milk Mom lovingly prepared, the delicious bhel that accompanied it, and the joy of settling down together for antakshari or a game of Scrabble. How easily an evening would stretch into the night having such a wonderful time.

One such evening remains especially etched in my mind. I was in the fourth standard, visiting relatives in Hyderabad, and we stayed up all night, singing and enjoying being together. Other memories take me to terraces, celebrating with friends and their families beneath the moonlit sky. Different places, different gatherings, yet the same warmth of togetherness runs through them all.

Such fond memories remain with us with a surprising freshness. Years pass, places change, and yet the thought of these celebrations brings back the joy we felt then.
Perhaps that is what our festivals quietly do. They become little homes for our memories. Each year, as they return, we find ourselves stepping into them again, carrying both the child we were and the person we have become.
 
For years, the joy of Kojagiri lay in these little rituals and the excitement of staying awake till midnight with friends and family. Alongside, them was the lovely belief that Goddess Lakshmi visits on this moonlit night, asking, 

“Ko jagarti?” – “Who is awake?” 

It is from this question that Kojagiri is traditionally believed to draw its name. Those who remain awake are said to receive her blessings of prosperity and well-being.
 
This year, as I celebrate my daughter Ishita’s birthday here in London, my thoughts wander back to those Kojagiri evenings, bringing a little longing for our familiar celebrations back home. Amidst the warmth of those memories, that simple question returns “Who is awake?”
 
I find myself lingering over it. What once meant the excitement of staying up late now invites a deeper reflection:
What does being awake truly mean? Could it also be asking - am I awake to the life I am living?

As I sit with this question, these three reflections begin to unfold, and I find myself putting them into words - as much for myself as for all of us.

 
Am I giving myself time to become, while recognising the gentle shifts unfolding within me?
 
My first reflection emerges as I look at the beautiful full moon, almost as though it has something to say to me. Every month, it moves through its phases – from the unseen new moon to a slender crescent, a half-moon, and eventually the luminous fullness we admire tonight. Yet at every stage, this heavenly presence fills me with wonder. I have never needed it to be full to find it beautiful. And that thought stays with me.
 
Tonight, as we mark its presence with our offering of masala milk, the gesture feels like a quiet expression of reverence - for its beauty, its rhythm, and all that it invites us to reflect upon. I find myself appreciating the journey that precedes this moment. Each phase has its place; each evening brings its own measure of light; its own beauty.
 
It makes me reflect on how we regard our own progress, and the grace we could bring to our becoming. Do we give clarity the time to take shape through experience, confidence the opportunity to grow with practice, and fulfilment the space to deepen as we discover what holds meaning for us? Do we allow ourselves to grow through the different phases of our lives, appreciating what each one is helping us discover?
 
And along the way, do we notice the gentle shifts within us - a little more understanding, a steadier response, the courage to take a step we once hesitated to take? These changes deserve our recognition and appreciation, too. They are signs of the growth we aspire to, already finding expression in our everyday lives. At time, how easily we overlook small shifts because we are waiting to see the complete change.
 
Even as we look forward to the fuller change we aspire to, perhaps we can pause to appreciate what is already unfolding, finding beauty in the phase we are in.
Perhaps the moon invites us to honour this unfolding in ourselves and in others – to appreciate the progress that is visible today, while giving what is still emerging the time and care it needs. 

Can I value the crescent in myself, even as I aspire towards fullness?
 
Am I nurturing thoughts that welcome positive energy, abundance and growth?
 
A special significance of Kojagiri is the prayer we offer to Goddess Lakshmi for abundance and prosperity. There is hope, renewal and a sense of possibility in the act itself.
 
We turn towards prosperity, well-being and growth. We express our faith that life can flourish, that our efforts can bear fruit, and that there is more we can create and contribute.
It makes me reflect on how, through life’s different phases and its many ups and downs, such traditions invite us to renew our outlook. To gently release thoughts that hold us back and make room for those that help us see a way forward.
 
When doubt arises, can we pause and move from “Will I be able to?” towards “What can I do, what can I learn, and how can I move forward?”
 
There is an vivid energy in this shift. A willingness to explore, to make an effort, to recognise an opportunity and act upon it. As our thinking becomes more hopeful, we become more willing to take the steps through which growth becomes possible.
 
Perhaps seeking Lakshmi’s blessings also invites us to nurture an inner space where our aspirations can take root – through the thoughts we encourage, the choices we make, and the actions we take. Our prayer can then become a personal commitment to give those aspirations direction and effort, carrying its positive spirit into everyday life.

Can I carry the hope of my prayer into my thoughts, and give it expression through actions that nurture abundance and growth?

 
Am I nourishing within me what I wish to see flourish?
 
One of the delights of Kojagiri is the lovingly prepared masala milk - enriched with almonds, cashews and pistachios, delicate strands of saffron, and fragrant cardamom. Each ingredient brings something of its own, adding to its flavour, richness and nourishment. And behind it all is the care with which it is prepared, bringing these ingredients together into something we look forward to sharing with warmth and love.
 
It makes me reflect on what goes into our own nourishment. We understand that our bodies need a variety of nutrients, each serving a purpose. Similarly, our minds and hearts draw sustenance from different ingredients, in different measures – work that challenges us, learning that stretches us, relationships that hold us, quiet moments that help us understand ourselves, laughter that lightens our days, creativity that gives us expression, and a sense of purpose that brings meaning to our efforts.
 
Do we make room for this nourishing blend in our everyday lives? Are the ingredients we take in - the thoughts, experiences and interactions - rich in what helps us feel nourished, grow and flourish?
 
A meaningful conversation, a few pages of a book, music we love, time spent in prayer, a walk that refreshes us, or simply a moment to pause – each can replenish something within us. And the nourishment we need may change with the phase of life we are in. Sometimes we need stimulation and discovery; at other times, rest, reassurance or companionship.
 
Just as Mom prepared that milk with such care, perhaps we can bring a little more intention to how we nourish ourselves. What do I need more of today? What helps me feel refreshed, steady and able to give of myself? Am I making time for it?
 
The tradition of preparing and sharing masala milk becomes, for me, a reminder that nourishment deserves our attention. As we feel replenished, we also have more to share – patience in a conversation, warmth in a relationship, energy for a meaningful endeavour. The care we receive finds its way into the care we offer.
 
Can I give my mind and heart the nourishment they need to help the life I envision flourish?
 

As we celebrate this beautiful full moon night, there is so much more to reflect upon. For now, I leave myself and all of us with one thought: Am I present in the moments that will one day become memories?
 
That Kojagiri evening in Hyderabad, like so many celebrations shared with loved ones, has stayed with me all these years. At the time, we were simply enjoying being together, unaware that the evening would find such a lasting place in my heart.
 
It makes me wonder about the moments unfolding around me today. Am I giving them my attention? Am I listening fully, joining the laughter, expressing the affection I feel? The memories I will cherish tomorrow are quietly taking shape in the way I participate in life today.
 
Perhaps this is how our resonance with divinity deepens over time. We return to familiar celebrations with more life behind us, and discover fresh meaning in what we have known since childhood. The moon still fills us with wonder; the traditions invite us to pause, connect and look a little more closely within.
 
Tonight, as we welcome Goddess Lakshmi, may we receive her blessings with a heart that recognises their many forms, a mind open to possibility, and the generosity to share what enriches us.
 
And when that lovely question returns “Ko jagarti?”  “Who is awake?” May we carry it gently beyond this moonlit night, into the way we think, grow, care and live.
 
Awake to what is unfolding within us. Grateful for what surrounds us. Present to those who make our lives beautiful.
 
As you sip the warm masala milk, sending you loads of beautiful wishes on this beautiful Kojagiri Pournima, filled with warmth, togetherness and the joy of being. 🌕
 
With Warm Regards,

Anupama 

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