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Narali Poornima
 Celebrated in the month of August, the Nariel Purnima or coconut day is dedicated to the sea god Varuna. This festival marks the end of the monsoons and is celebrated by the fishermen of Maharashtra. The fishermen paint their boats and coconuts are broken against them as offering to the sea god. Little oil lamps are lit and set afloat amidst the waves and carried in the boats.
Garlands made of flowers are also offered to the seas to mark the beginning of a new fishing season.Narali Poornima marks the end of monsoon season in Maharashtra. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Shravan. People offer coconuts to the sea.
The festival also marks the beginning of the new fishing season. So, fishermen appease the sea-god before sailing out over the mighty sea. They worship for a safe fishing. Singing and dancing are the main attraction of the festival. Sweet coconut rice is prepared for the day. Narali Pournima, Shravani Pournima, Rakhi Pournima or Raksha Bandhan are the various names given to this festival. Naral means coconut and coconut is offered to the sea, so it is called the naral poornima. |
