Nariyal Purnima

Nariyal Purnima (Coconut Day)

July-August; full moon day of the Hindu month of Sravana

Nariyal (or Narali) Purnima, Coconut Day, is celebrated by Hindus in western India in the union territory of Daman and Diu, on India's west coast, and in the nearby state of Maharashtra at the end of the monsoon season. This is the time of year when the fishing and water-trade season begins again, and, in thanks, people gather at the shores and throw coconuts into the Arabian Sea as offerings to Varuna, the sea god. Why coconuts? For one thing, because the nut of the coconut appears to have three eyes, it is associated with the god Shiva, who is represented as having three eyes. For another, coconut kernals are a standard offering to the gods. Finally, many consider breaking a coconut to bring good luck to any new venture, such as the beginning of the trade season.

SOURCES:
DictFolkMyth-1984, p. 240
DictHindu-1977, p. 323
HinduRelCustManners-1960, p. 148
HinduRelYr-1921, p. 48
RelHolCal-2004, p. 172