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{{Short description|Festival in Mithila}}{{Related|[[Madhushravani]]|[[Maithil Upanayan]]}}
{{Infobox holiday
| type = Ethnic
| holiday_name = Kojagra
| observedby = [[Maithil Brahmin]], Maithil [[Kayastha]]s
| date = Sharad Purnima
| month = Ashvin
| frequency = Annual
| nickname = कोजगरा
| firsttime = [[Treta Yuga]]
| startedby = King [[Janaka]] for [[Lord Rama]]
}}
'''Kojagra''' ([[Maithili language|Maithili]]: कोजगरा) is a special festival of the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]] in the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=मिथिलाञ्चलमा कोजागरा पर्व मनाइँदै |trans-title=Kojagara festival being celebrated in Mithilanchal |url=https://www.lokpath.com/story/192535/ |access-date=2025-11-06 |website=Lokpath |language=ne}}</ref> It is a [[Samskara (rite of passage)|sanskar]] ritual for the newly married couples among the communities of the [[Maithil Brahmin|Maithil Brahmins]] and [[Kayastha|Kayasthas]]. It is celebrated on the occasion of [[Sharad Purnima]] in the Hindu month of [[Ashvin (month)|Ashvin]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kojagra in Mithilanchal: सामाजिक सरोकार का लोकपर्व कोजागरा आज, मिथिला के नवविवाहित दूल्हों के घर उत्सवी माहौल - Kojagra today festive atmosphere at the house of newly married grooms of Mithila |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/muzaffarpur-kojagra-today-festive-atmosphere-at-the-house-of-newly-married-grooms-of-mithila-22128876.html |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Kojagra 2024: इस दिन मनाया जाएगा मिथिला का लोक पर्व कोजागरा |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/religion/kojagara-2024-folk-festival-of-mithila-in-bihar-know-dates-importance-significance |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.prabhatkhabar.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=मैथिली नवदम्पतियों का विशेष पर्व कोजगरा आज |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/motihari/story-kojagra-festival-celebrated-in-mithila-society-on-sharad-purnima-201729015027248.html |work=Hindustan}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
The word Kojagara is primarily associated with the Nakshatra Pati (King of constellation) Moon. The indic term Jagra is considered the moon's rays, derived from the words "jagaran" and "ku" which becomes "ko" is related to the nectar-like-rays of the moon light. This means that the full moon, is celebrated as the day of awakening in its nectar-like rays.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-16 |title=मिथिला का प्रसिद्ध लोक पर्व कोजागरा आज, तैयारी पूरी |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/darbhanga/story-mithila-celebrates-kojagara-a-local-festival-of-joy-and-tradition-amid-rising-costs-201729017733942.html |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=www.livehindustan.com |language=hi}}</ref>

== Description ==
Kojagra is a sanskar ritual associated with the tradition of the ''[[Maithil Vivah]]'' among the communities of [[Maithil Brahmin|Maithil Brahmins]] and [[Maithils|Maithil]] [[Kayastha|Kayasthas]]. It is a ''Lokaparva'' of the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]]. In the festival of Kojagra, a ''Bhaar'' of fruits, sweets, ''Khaajaa'', ''Makhana'', ''Batasha'' and ''Paan'', etc is sent from the house of newly married brides to the house of newly married grooms. The rituals of the festival are performed at night. In the evening, the groom dressed up in the clothes brought from his in-laws' house, then the women of his house and society perform ''[[Chumavan]]'' ritual with him. Similarly, at least five the elder men of his family or society impart blessings by chanting [[Durwakshat Mantra|Durwaksht Mantra]]. After the Chumavan ritual, the groom plays a game of ''Pachchisi'' with his brother-in-law. For this, cowries and dice come from the family of bride house only. The loser gives a gift to the winner. During this game, a gathering of Maithili folk songs and music is also performed by the women.<ref>{{Cite web |title=मिथिला की लोक संस्कृति का पर्व कोजागरा - kojagra puja to be celebrated today - Jharkhand Ranchi Common Man Issues News |url=https://www.jagran.com/jharkhand/ranchi-kojagra-puja-to-be-celebrated-today-22128708.html |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> After the completion of the rituals procedure of the Kojagara festival, there is a tradition of distributing Makhana, Batasha and Paan (betel leaves) among the people of the society in the night. The festival of Kojagra is treated as the symbol of social harmony in the region.<ref name=":0" /> On the occasion of Kojagra, a sacred feast for [[Maithil Brahmin Bhoj|Brahmins Bhoj]] is also organised by the family of groom in the night.

=== Importance of Makhana ===
[[Mithila Makhana|Makhana]] has special importance in the festival of Kojagra. On this day, makhana porridge, which is full of nutritional properties, is prepared and kept in the moonlight overnight, giving it immortality, and then it is fed to the newly married man so that he remains free from all diseases and lives a long life.<ref name=":2" />

== Legend ==
The main deity of the Kojagra festival is [[Lakshmi|Goddess Lakshmi]]. In the festival, [[Annapurna (goddess)|Annapurna]] form of the Goddess is worshipped. According to legend, the Goddess Annapurna starts residing in the house from the night of Kojagra festival of Ashvin month. It is said that worshipping the Annapurna form of the Goddess sincerely in the night of Kojagra, there is happiness, prosperity and peace in the house and food crisis never comes in the house. With this belief, the Goddess Annapurna is worshipped in every house of the Maithil people in that night.<ref name=":1" />

The tradition of celebrating Kojagra has been going on from ancient times in the folk culture of Mithila. It was originated from the [[court of King Janaka]] in Mithila. According to legend, it was started by the [[Janaka|King Janaka]] in [[Treta Yuga]] for his son-in-law [[Rama|Lord Rama]]. The first Kojagara was performed by the King Janaka for Lord Rama. It is said that the King Janaka performed the Kojagara puja for his son-in-law Rama and daughter [[Sita]] and sent betel (paan) leaves, bananas, [[Mithila Makhana|makhana]], and laddus as gifts for Rama. Since then, this festival of Kojagra has been celebrated in the Mithila region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=मिथिला की लोक संस्कृति का पर्व कोजागरा - kojagra puja to be celebrated today - Jharkhand Ranchi Common Man Issues News |url=https://www.jagran.com/jharkhand/ranchi-kojagra-puja-to-be-celebrated-today-22128708.html |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref>

The festival Kojagra is also related to the Samundra Manthan story of Puranas. In the Samundra Manthan (churning of the ocean) story as described in various Puranas written by Vedas Vyasa, Goddess Lakshmi emerged on the full moon day of Ashwin Shukla Paksha. There is a classical belief that this date should be specifically celebrated as the day for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi. According to Puranas, Lord Chandradeva and Goddess Lakshmi originated from the ocean, both are considered to be siblings. In the festival, Lord Chandradeva is also very important and worshipped. As evident from the Vedas and Ayurveda shows that the medicinal properties of all the trees and plants on earth are transmitted to them only through the moon rays. Similarly in the text Bhagawad Geeta, Lord Krishna, while preaching to Arjuna, said, "Nakshatranamah Shashi," meaning, "I am the moon, chief among all the stars."<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-10-16 |title=मिथिला का प्रसिद्ध लोक पर्व कोजागरा आज, तैयारी पूरी |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/darbhanga/story-mithila-celebrates-kojagara-a-local-festival-of-joy-and-tradition-amid-rising-costs-201729017733942.html |access-date=2025-10-03 |website=www.livehindustan.com |language=hi}}</ref>

During this festival, which occurs after the end of the rainy season, the sky is completely clear and its rays, full of medicinal properties, fall directly on the earth. Based on these beliefs, Kojagara festival is celebrated with special importance on this date in Mithila.<ref name=":2" />

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Indian subcontinent]]
[[Category:Culture of Mithila]]
[[Category:Festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:Festivals in India]]
[[Category:Maithil Brahmin]]
[[Category:Hinduism]]

{{India-festival-stub}}

Kojagra - Revision history

Vishal Meena Phagi: started details - done