SharadPurnima
‖ Ashwin Shukla Purnima · 26 October 2026 ‖
Raas-nisha — the divine night when the full moon rains nectar in all its sixteen phases. At the Khatu Shyam temple it is kept with Krishna’s raas-leela, night-long bhajan, and the nectar-kheer left out under the moon.
Sharad Purnima is one of the few nights of the year when the moon is full in all sixteen phases. It is also called Kojagari Purnima, and is tied in Marwari tradition to the welcome of Lakshmi — but for Khatu Shyam devotees its special meaning lies in Krishna’s raas-leela and the unity of Krishna and Baba.
Why Sharad Purnima?
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Raas-nisha — Krishna’s divine leela
Sharad Purnima is called the "raas-nisha" — the night Krishna held the maha-raas with the gopis in Vrindavan. On this night, the scriptures say, the full moon rains nectar upon the earth.
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Kheer and the moonbeams
By tradition, healing, nectar-like rays pour from the moon on Sharad Purnima. So milk-and-rice kheer is left out under the open moonlit sky through the night, and taken in the morning as prasad after it is offered to Baba.
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The unity of Krishna and Shyam
Shri Khatu Shyam Ji is Krishna’s own form in the age of Kali. So the raas-leela of Sharad Purnima is kept specially at Baba’s temple too — with night bhajan, kheer prasad and a tradition of darshan through the night.
The Temple Observance
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A day of fasting and remembrance
Devotees keep a sattvic or fruit diet through the day, with remembrance of Baba, recitation of the Chalisa and bhajan-kirtan.
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The special way of making kheer
Kheer is made of cow’s milk, rice, mishri, cardamom and dried fruit. After it is first offered to Baba, the vessel is left out under the open moonlit sky all night.
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Night jagran and raas-kirtan
The temple keeps a night-long bhajan-sandhya. Songs of the raas-leela of Radha-Krishna and Shyam-Baba are sung especially, with a special aarti at midnight.
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Morning kheer-prasad
After sunrise the kheer is taken to the temple, offered again before Baba, and then distributed as prasad to all. This kheer is held to be like nectar.
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When is Sharad Purnima 2026?
Sharad Purnima falls on Ashwin Shukla Purnima — 26 October 2026 (Monday). It is also known as Kojagari Purnima.
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Why is kheer left out under the moon on Sharad Purnima?
By tradition the full moon of Sharad Purnima rains down healing, nectar-like rays. Kheer is left out under the open moonlit sky all night and taken as prasad in the morning.
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How is Sharad Purnima kept at Khatu Shyam?
As Khatu Shyam is Krishna’s form, the temple keeps the raas-leela night with bhajan-kirtan, a midnight aarti, and the moonlight kheer offered to Baba and shared as prasad.
The detailed Hindi guide carries the full raas-nisha significance and the kheer tradition.