Introduction
Narali Purnima, also known as the Coconut Full Moon festival, is observed on the same day as Raksha Bandhan during Shravan Purnima, and is widely celebrated along the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, particularly among fishing communities.
Cultural Beliefs
The festival centres on the worship of the Sea God, Varuna, with fishermen offering coconuts to the sea as a gesture of gratitude and a prayer for safety and prosperity during the upcoming fishing season. The coconut is considered an auspicious and pure offering in Hindu tradition, symbolising fertility and good fortune, and its offering to the sea is meant to seek forgiveness for disturbing marine life through fishing and to ensure calm waters ahead.
