Sharad Purnima: the raas leela and kheer in the moonlight
The story of Krishna's maha-raas on the full-moon night of Ashwin and the common custom of keeping kheer in the moonlight.
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Sharad Purnima is the full moon of the month of Ashwin. According to the Bhagavata Purana it was on this night that Krishna danced the maha-raas with the gopis in Vrindavan. The autumn sky is clear and the moon is at its brightest.
In many families milk kheer is made this night and left under the open sky in the moonlight. In the early morning it is offered to the deity and eaten as prasad. Some believe the moon's quality enters it. That is a matter of belief, not a medical claim.
The temples of Braj hold bhajan, kirtan and special decoration that night. At home too one can sit under the moon and sing Krishna's name.
