In Festive Mode

Puneites fasted and offered prayers to Goddess Lakshmi on Kojagiri

On Tuesday night,the city stayed awake till the wee hours to celebrate the Kojagari Lakshmi puja. Despite the stormy weather,devotees sought blessings from Goddess Lakshmi by offering milk and prasad. The rains may have played spoiltsport for outdoor celebrations but within the four walls of their homes,people recited bhajans and strotas. “We made sure that our family members were awake. It is believed that the Goddess visits the house at night and asks who is awake. She blesses people with money and fame when she sees their devotion on this full moon night,” says Khsama Saraswat,a resident of Kothrud. “We fasted since morning. We offered the masala milk to the Lakshmi idol and then had it as prasad,” says Meena Bhopale from Sadashiv Peth. For the Bengalis of the city,the Kojagari Lakshmi puja is an extended celebration of Durga Puja. “We do not perform an elaborate Lakshmi Puja. The ladies of the society gather and offer prayers to the Goddess. This year,the fast was broken after sipping the holy water from a copper container,a trademark of the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja,” says Madhuchhanda Sen,member,Shivar Lords Lakshmi Puja Committee,Pimple Saudagar. After offering prayers,the committee got together for a sumptuous Bengali dinner.