DOODH-POHA ~ Celebration of Sharad Purnima

Also known as 'Kojaagari Punam,' the festival is celebrated on Aso sud 15 - Purnima. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth moves around in the night sky, asking `Ko jaagarti' searching for people below who are awake. In Sanskrit, `Ko jaagarti' means, ' Who is awake?' And to those who are awake she gifts wealth. 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. Consequently, they were blessed by the goddess and they regained their prosperity.

Sentiments


The spiritual import of 'Jaagrati' (awake) is to remain vigilant. In Vachanamrut Gadhada III-9, Bhagwan Swaminarayan elaborates on this vigilance. He says that the vigilance in one's heart is the gateway to the Lord's divine abode. Devotees should not let mundane desires, of wealth, lust and so forth, enter their hearts. When faced with obstacles such as: success and failure, happiness and misery, honor and insult, the devotees should remain unflinching in their devotion to God. In this manner, they should remain vigilant at the gateway to God, not letting any mundane objects through.

Therefore, every moment in our lives requires vigilance and this in itself becomes a subtle form of 'tapas' - austerity. Those who performed severe austerities without vigilance, succumbed to Maya. Vishwamitra performed austerities for 60,000 years, but lost 'Jaagruti' - vigilance - in Menka's company. Similarly, lack of vigilance toppled Saubhari rishi, Ekalshrungi, Parashar and others. (Source - here )

. Hence, the night is spent in festivity and various games of amusement, in honour of the goddess. So people sit in the moonlight singing songs, or keep themselves entertained in some other way  In the western state of Gujarat, the night is known as Sharad Poonam. In Gujarat, people celebrate it by doing Garba and Raas.There is also a tradition to have cool milk and rice flakes on this night.

'Dudha-Pauva' - parched rice soaked in milk - is offered to God. This prasad is then availed by devotees. The health attribute of this prasad is similar to that of Dashera's; it corrects any disturbance in 'pitta'.

I added vanilla for an English twist.

You will need:-

• 3-4 cup Milk
• 1 cup Poha ( Rice flakes)
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/4 cup dry fruit Masala Powder ( almonds, pistachio, saffron and cardamom )
• 1  Vanilla pod (if you can't find pod..use Vanilla Sugar )

Method:-
Boil the milk in a nonstick pan with Sugar...add Vanilla.  After 5-6 minutes add washed poha and mix really well.  let the poha soaked milk and after 3-4 minutes switch of the heat..Add dry fruit masala powder and let it cool at room temperature. and let it chill in the fridge about 2-3 hours..and serve as a dessert