Sharad Purnima in Chitrakoot

Date and timing in Chitrakoot

Sharad Purnima falls on the Purnima tithi of Ashwin. In Chitrakoot, the observance is reckoned by the local sunrise and the local panchang for the city, which follows Asia/Kolkata time.

For the coming years, the date computed for Chitrakoot is:

• 2026: Monday 26 October 2026
• 2027: Friday 15 October 2027

The tithi is Ashwin Purnima, and the presiding deity of the observance is Lakshmi. Because the tithi is tracked from the local sunrise, the day on which Sharad Purnima is observed in Chitrakoot is the day that follows from Chitrakoot's own sunrise, not a single national calendar date applied everywhere.

Why the date can differ from India

Panchang dates are not fixed clock dates. A tithi is a span of the Moon's movement, and the day it is assigned to depends on where and when the Sun rises at that place. Different cities therefore can observe the same Purnima on different civil dates, and a national list may show a date that does not match your own city.

Chitrakoot's date is worked out for Chitrakoot's sunrise. If you live elsewhere, the date for your own city may differ. This is normal and not a contradiction; it is how the tithi system works. Traditions also differ on when the vrat is kept — some follow amanta reckoning, others purnimanta, and Smarta and Vaishnava practice can vary. Where such differences exist, follow the panchang and tradition of your own family or sampradaya.

Where and how the community celebrates

Sharad Purnima is a pan-India observance, and Chitrakoot is no exception. The day is associated with Lakshmi, and the well-known custom is to prepare kheer and leave it under the moonlight. The sharad season's full moon is regarded as especially cool and clear, and the kheer is placed in the open so that the moon's rays fall on it before it is taken as prasad.

Because the observance is general rather than tied to a single location, households and neighbourhoods in Chitrakoot keep it in their own way — with a fast, with Lakshmi puja, with the moonlit kheer, or with a combination of these. Details of local gatherings vary by family and community, so the simplest guide is the practice followed in your own home or by the elders you trust.

Practical tips

• Check the Chitrakoot panchang for the year you are observing, since the date is fixed by local sunrise.
• If you are outside Chitrakoot, use the date for your own city rather than assuming the Chitrakoot date applies to you.
• Prepare the kheer as your family tradition prescribes, and place it in the open where the moonlight falls on it.
• Keep the fast and the puja in the form your sampradaya follows; where amanta and purnimanta or Smarta and Vaishnava practice differ, follow your own tradition.
• For anything specific to your personal chart — vrat rules, muhurta, or individual practice — consult a qualified jyotishi.