Coconut day / NāraLi pournima

 

Coconut day / NāraLi pournima 

NāraLi Pournima is a ceremonial day observed by Hindu fishing communities in Maharashtra particularly around Mumbai and the Konkan coast. It is held on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Shravan which falls around July or August. The ocean was worshipped with rice, flowers and coconuts as offerings. Another ceremony involves women tying a rakhi or amulet on the wrists of their brothers.

Celebration

World Coconut is celebrated on 2nd September whole over the world, declare by UN-ESCAP. In Bombay the festival formerly involved large numbers of people assembling at the beach between Malabar Hill and Colaba with coconuts and floral offerings being cast into the sea. It was celebrated towards the end of the monsoon and marked the beginning of calmer seas and safe sailing. 

Narali Purnima 2021 | Importance and Rituals of Narali Purnima 

Narali Purnima (Hindi: नराली पूर्णिमा), also known as Coconut Day is an important festival celebrated majorly by Hindus in the western coastal regions of India. It is observed on the Purnima (full moon) in the month of Shravana in the Hindu calendar and therefore referred as Shravana Purnima. In English calendar, this occurrence falls between the months of July-August.

 

Narali Purnima 2021 is on August 22, Sunday

Narali Purnima is observed with great zeal and fervour in Maharashtra and adjoining Konkani regions. People from the fisherman community celebrate this festival to ward off untoward incidents while sailing in the sea.

 

The word 'Narali' is derived from Naral implying 'coconut' and 'purnima' signifies the 'full moon day' and therefore coconut holds an important purpose on this day.

 

In the other regions of the country, the festival of Narali Purnima coincides with other festivals like Shravani Purnima, Raksha Bandhan and Kajari Poornima. Even though the traditions and cultures may differ, thesignificance remains thesame.

 

Rituals during Narali Purnima:

On the day of Narali Purnima, Hindu devotees worship Lord Varun. On this occasion, a 'nariyal' (coconut) is offered to the Lord of Sea. It is believed that brightly

Performing the puja rituals on Shravana Purnima, they can please the Lord and seek His protection from all dangers of the sea. The 'Upnayan' and 'Yagyopaweet' rituals are among the most widely followed rituals.

 

The month of Shravana is dedicated to worshipping Lord Shiva. On Narali Purnima, devotees also offer prayers to Shiva as it is believed that the three eyes of coconut is a depiction of 3-eyed Lord Shiva.

 

The Brahmins in the state of Maharashtra who perform the 'Shravani Upakarma' keep a fast on this day without consuming any form of grains. They keep the 'phalahar' vrat by eating only coconut all day long.

 

On Narali Purnima as a gesture of gratitude and respect towards Mother Nature, people also plant coconut trees along the coast.

 

After completing the puja rituals, fishermen sail in the sea, in their ornately decorated boats. After making a short trip, they return to the shore and spend the rest of the day soaking in the festivities. Dancing and singing form the main attraction of this festival.

 

Important Timings on Narali Purnima:-

Sunrise	August 22, 2021 6:09 AM
Sunset	August 22, 2021 6:49 PM
Purnima Tithi Begins	August 21, 2021 7:00 PM
Purnima Tithi Ends	August 22, 2021 5:31 PM

Significance of Narali Purnima:

Narali Purnima is a chief religious festival that is celebrated along the coastal regions. It holds special significance for the fisherman community, especially in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat.

Narali Purnima is religiously observed by thoseinvolved in salt production, fishing or any other activity related to sea. This festival is primarily dedicated to worshipping Lord Varun, the God of Sea.Fishermen offer prayers and keeps a fast asking the Lord to calm the sea during the turbulentmonsoon season.

Narali Purnima also marks the onset of the fishing season and on this day fishermen make generous offerings to Lord Varun to seek His blessings to reap abundant fishes from the sea. The festival of Narali Purnima is indicative of the coming year that will be filled with happiness, joy and wealth.

Narali Purnima festival dates between 2018 & 2028

Year	Date
2018	Sunday, 26th of August
2019	Thursday, 15th of August
2020	Monday, 3rd of August
2021	Sunday, 22nd of August
2022	Friday, 12th of August
2023	Thursday, 31st of August
2024	Monday, 19th of August
2025	Saturday, 9th of August
2026	Friday, 28th of August
2027	Tuesday, 17th of August
2028	Saturday, 5th of August

Narali Poornima Festival Maharashtra

Narali Poornima or Coconut Festival is celebrated by the Hindus of fishing community of Maharashtra with a lot of fervour and on the full moon day or Poornima of the month of Shravan, which also happens to be one of the auspicious months of the Hindu calendar. The festival also goes by the name of Raksha Bandhan, Rakhi Poornima, and Shravani Poornima.

 

Naral means coconut and on the full moon day in the month of Shravan, coconut is offered to the sea and hence, the name.

 

The festival is celebrated to mark the end of the monsoon season, as the fishermen now can begin fishing safely and start-off with their trade. Apart from offering coconut to Varuna, the sea-God, people also worship the sea and offers prayers so that the God keeps them safe while they are out in the sea, fishing.

 

No fishing is done during this period and no fish is consumed as well. It’s only after Narali Poornima, after a coconut has been offered to the God at high tide that people can start fishing and consume fish. The traditional food of this festival is a sweet curry made from coconut.

 

Raksha Bandhan is also celebrated on the same day. Sisters tie rakhi on the wrist of their brothers that is also known as the thread of protection.

 

HISTORY OF THE ATTRACTION

Raksha Bandhan is age-old festival in India and it was prevalent even during the Indus civilization. The story of Rani Karnawati who sent Emperor Humayan a rakhi to seek protection of Chittor against Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat is one of the most famous stories of Raksha Bandhan. Even Draupadi had tied a rakhi around the wrist of Lord Krishna who protected her always.

 

Rakhi is celebrated as Narali Poornima in the Western Ghats and offering is made to Lord Varuna.

 

DURATION OF THE FESTIVAL

It is a one-day festival.

 

IMPORTANT RITUALS OF THE FESTIVAL

Some of the things that the people celebrating Narali Poornima do during this festival are:

·       Fishermen repair their boats and fishing nets just few days before the festival. They paint their boat as well and decorate with flower garlands. New boats and nets can also be purchased.

·         Traditional naral bhaat or coconut rice is prepared along with narlachi karanjis on the day of the festival.

·         They throw coconut into the sea after the celebration is over and Lord Varuna is worshipped.

·         Pooja is also offered to the boat and small oil lamps are carried on the boats or set afloat in the waves.

Narali Poornima happens to be a very important festival of the Koli community. Men and women dress up in the traditional way and come together for a procession during the evening between 5 – 6 PM. They offer golden coloured coconut to the sea.