Narali Purnima or the Coconut Festival or the Coconut Day is a traditional festival celebrated in India’s Maharashtra coastline. This festival is especially a festival of fishermen and fishing community of of the state. It falls on the full moon day in the month of Shravan. For 2008, it falls on 1st, August, Friday.

Narali Purnima Celebrations
The festival involves the fishermen’s offering of coconuts to the sea god, Varuna, who is believed to protect the fishermen from the wrath of the sea. According to some throwing coconuts into the sea is an offering to the food giving Goddess of the Water whereas other opine that the offering is dedicated to Varuna, the Vedic God of Ocean.

It is celebrated at the end of the monsoon season and the offerings are considered as a happy sign that the monsoons are over. It also indicates the beginning of new fishing season; therefore the festival is celebrated with lots of pomp and joy across the coastline of Maharashtra.

On the occasion boats are decorated, sweets are distributed, mantras are recited and prayers are offered to the Sea God before the fishermen venture out in the waters with their boats.