Sharad Purnima 2026 on October 25: tithi, moonrise and the kheer tradition
Representative image: rkarkowski / Pixabay
Sharad Purnima falls on Sunday, October 25, 2026; the tithi runs 11:55 am Oct 25 to 9:41 am Oct 26, and kheer is kept in moonlight that night.
What Happened
Sharad Purnima, the full moon of the month of Ashwin that is marked across India with a bowl of kheer left under the moonlight, falls on Sunday, October 25, 2026, according to the Drik Panchang almanac. The Purnima tithi begins at 11:55 am on October 25 and ends at 9:41 am on October 26 for New Delhi, so the night-time rituals, including the Kojagari Lakshmi vigil, belong to the night of October 25. The Moon is due to rise at about 5 pm in Delhi that evening, with times varying by city.
Key Facts
- Sharad Purnima 2026 is on Sunday, October 25.
- Purnima tithi: 11:55 am on October 25 to 9:41 am on October 26 (New Delhi); some calendars differ by two or three minutes.
- Moonrise on October 25 is around 5 pm in Delhi and about 5:26 pm in Surat.
- The day is also known as Kojagari Purnima, Kojagara Puja and Hunnime.
- The best-known custom is to prepare kheer of rice, milk, sugar and saffron, cover it with a thin cloth and leave it in moonlight for some hours before eating it as prasad.
- In Maharashtra, many families keep spiced milk outside under the moon instead.
- In Mithila, the Kojagra observance is also a ritual for newly married couples.
Why It Matters
Sharad Purnima sits at a turning point in the Indian year. It is the full moon that follows the monsoon and opens Sharad, the autumn season. Many of its customs are about food and the body, which is why it holds a special place in India's traditional ideas of seasonal living.
The kheer ritual is the centrepiece. Families cook a simple rice-and-milk pudding, set it on a terrace or windowsill under a muslin or thin cloth, and eat it later as blessed food. According to devotional and popular writing on the festival, moonlight on this night is believed to carry amrit, the nectar of immortality, and to be cooling. Some writers link this to Ayurveda's description of autumn as a season when pitta, the body's principle of heat, runs high. These ideas are matters of tradition and belief; no scientific evidence shows that moonlight changes the food, and claims that it makes kheer more nourishing or easier to digest are not backed by research.
What the tradition does reflect is a sensible seasonal habit: light, milk-based foods after a long fasting season such as Navratri, eaten in the cool of an autumn evening. For many families, the ritual is also a reason to sit outside together on a bright full-moon night.
The night has other meanings too. It is Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, when devotees keep a night-long vigil for the goddess of wealth. In Krishna temples, it is linked to the Maha Raas. In Mithila, it marks a rite for newly married couples.
| Detail | Sharad Purnima 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, October 25 |
| Purnima tithi (Delhi) | 11:55 am, October 25 to 9:41 am, October 26 |
| Moonrise (Delhi) | About 5 pm, October 25 |
| Main food custom | Kheer kept under moonlight, eaten as prasad |
| Other names | Kojagari Purnima, Kojagara Puja, Hunnime |
Impact
Short-term: Families and temples will prepare for October 25, with evening gatherings on terraces and in temple courtyards.
Long-term: The festival keeps alive a link between the calendar, the seasons and food that runs through India's traditional lifestyle, and it is one of several moments in the year when that knowledge is passed from one generation to the next.
Who is affected: Hindu households across India, temples and communities observing Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, and anyone interested in traditional seasonal eating.
Key Takeaway
Sharad Purnima falls on October 25, 2026, and its kheer-under-the-moon custom is a cherished seasonal tradition, though the belief that moonlight changes the food is a matter of faith, not science.
Questions and Answers
When is Sharad Purnima in 2026?
On Sunday, October 25, 2026. The Purnima tithi runs from 11:55 am on October 25 to 9:41 am on October 26 for New Delhi, so the night rituals are held on October 25.
Why is kheer kept under moonlight on Sharad Purnima?
By tradition, moonlight on this night is believed to be cooling and to carry amrit, so families leave covered kheer outside for some hours and then eat it as prasad. There is no scientific evidence that the moonlight changes the food.
Is Sharad Purnima the same as Kojagari Purnima?
Yes. The same full moon is called Kojagari Purnima, when Lakshmi is worshipped with a night-long vigil. It is also called Kojagara Puja and Hunnime.
What time is moonrise on Sharad Purnima 2026?
About 5 pm in Delhi on October 25, and around 5:26 pm in Surat. Moonrise times differ by city, so check a local almanac.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
