Time for the appearance of stars on Ahoi Ashtami 2026 in major cities, including Delhi and Uttar Pradesh

The night of Sharad Purnima is considered very significant in Hinduism. According to beliefs, during the full moon of the Ashwin month, the Moon achieves perfection in its sixteen phases, and its moonlight is perceived as nectar. This is why there is a tradition of preparing kheer (a sweet dish made from milk and rice) and leaving it under the light of the Moon. Furthermore, Goddess Lakshmi is especially revered on this day, and nocturnal vigils are held.

In 2026, the festival of Sharad Purnima is celebrated on October 25th on a Sunday. Consequently, people have questions regarding the Bhadra and Panchak periods. Therefore, before conducting rituals, observing the Moon, and placing kheer, it is crucial to know the exact date, time of moonrise, as well as the hours of Bhadra and Panchak.

According to the Hindu Panchang, Sharad Purnima is celebrated on the full moon of the Shukla Paksha of the Ashwin month. Since the full moon date lasts two days this year, there are differences in the dates for performing worship and taking ablutions and offerings. Considering the tradition of worshipping the Moon and leaving kheer at night, the festival itself falls on October 25th.

• Start of the full moon date: October 25, 2026, 11:55 AM
• End of the full moon date: October 26, 2026, 9:41 AM
• Sharad Purnima: Sunday, October 25, 2026
• Ablution and offering during the full moon: Monday, October 26, 2026
• Approximate moonrise time: around 5:40 PM

Please note that the moonrise time may vary depending on the city.

The tradition of preparing kheer and placing it under the moonlight has been linked to religious beliefs for centuries. It is believed that when kheer is placed under the rays of the Moon on this night, it acquires properties comparable to nectar. Afterward, it is offered to the gods and then accepted as prasad.

This year, the Nishita Kaal period is particularly important for placing kheer during Sharad Purnima. The auspicious time for placing kheer is set from 11:40 PM to 12:31 AM. This interval covers the night from October 25th until midnight on October 26th. This time is determined based on Nishita Muhurta. It should be noted that discrepancies may exist regarding the time for placing kheer in different Panchangs and local traditions, so it is recommended to verify the time according to the local Panchang.

This year, the Bhadra period will also be active on the day of Sharad Purnima. According to the Panchang, Bhadra will occur on October 25th, starting at 11:55 AM and lasting until 10:52 PM. In religious views, some auspicious activities are advised against during Bhadra. Nevertheless, the rules differ for each religious rite, so it is necessary to observe the established auspicious moments for worship and placing kheer. It is important to note that the start of the specified Nishita Muhurta period occurs after the end of the Bhadra period.

On the day of Sharad Purnima, October 25th, the Panchak will also be in effect. According to available information from the Panchang, the Panchaka time is calculated from 6:28 AM to 7:22 PM. In astrology, Panchak denotes a period of five Nakshatras. There is a tradition of exercising caution when performing certain actions during this time. However, not all religious rites are considered forbidden during Panchaka; the decision to conduct worship and observe the Moon can be made according to local religious traditions.

The placement of kheer under the moonlight on Sharad Purnima has religious and mythological explanations. It is believed that on this night, the Moon is full of all its sixteen phases, and its rays possess the properties of nectar. Due to this belief, kheer, prepared from milk, rice, and sugar, is displayed outdoors in the moonlight. It is believed that consuming kheer left under the moonlight the next day as prasad brings prosperity, prosperity, and health. Sharad Purnima also holds special significance for the worship of Goddess Lakshmi. It is said that on this night, Goddess Lakshmi visits Earth, and she favors those devotees who stay awake and worship her. For this reason, this day is also called Kojagiri Purnima.

The festival of Sharad Purnima is celebrated annually on the day of the full moon in the Ashwin month. There is a belief that on this day, the rays of the Moon shower nectar, so consuming kheer left under this light brings great blessings. However, confusion arose among people regarding the date this time: some indicated October 25th, while others pointed to October 26th.

Astrologer Pravin Mishra, after studying the Panchang, determined the exact date. According to the Panchang, the full moon period will be effective from 11:55 AM on October 25th until 9:41 AM on October 26th. In Pravin Mishra's opinion, since worshiping the Moon and leaving kheer is traditionally done on the night of Sharad Purnima, the fast should be observed on October 25th. On this day, it is recommended to listen to the story of Lord Satyanarayan and worship Goddess Lakshmi.

According to the astrologer, the Brahma Muhurta on October 26th will occur from 4:46 AM to 5:38 AM. Pilgrims taking a bath in the sacred river can do so during this period, and after bathing, they can worship God and engage in charity.

There is a tradition of preparing kheer on the night of Sharad Purnima and leaving it outdoors. According to religious beliefs, nectar flows from the Moon's rays on this night, and this effect is transferred to the kheer. The next day, the kheer is offered to Gods Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, and then consumed as prasad. The astrologer advised that when leaving the kheer outdoors, it can be covered with a thin cotton cloth. After the kheer is offered to the Gods in the morning, there is a tradition of sharing the prasad with family members and loved ones. In religious views, this prasad is associated with positivity, health, and the grace of the deities.

According to religious beliefs, on the night of Sharad Purnima, the Moon becomes full, possessing sixteen states. In astrology, the Moon is considered the planet governing the mind. Therefore, special importance is given to worshipping the Moon, reciting mantras, singing hymns, and vigils on this night. It is believed that this brings peace to the mind and increases positivity. In religious scriptures, Lord Shri Rama is described as having twelve states, and Lord Shri Krishna as a complete incarnation with sixteen states. The sixteen states of the Moon include Amrita, Manda, Pushpa, Pushti, Tushti, Dhriti, Shisini, Chandrika, Kanti, Jotsna, Shri, Preti, Angda, Purna, and Purnamrit, which are related to different phases of the Moon and religious beliefs.