Kojagari - Lakshmi pooja - with lamps

" KOJAGARA VRATHA " can also be called as pooja for INDRA & LAKSHMI. Indra is the brother of Lakshmi. This is cleberated on Ashwayuja - Shukala Paksha - Pournami - Night. From morning. we do not take food after our usual pooja to gods, we get prepared for this Pooja, which is done after late evenings (i.e after sun set) as we wait for the Moon to rise. Here Indra is worshipped on a White Elephant ( IRAVATHA ). Usually for slokas on Lakshminarayana, we should also light about 100000, 1000 or 100 deepas as per our willingness. We have lighted 100 only. During the pooja time we should play games with our family members like the " Dice " (called "dhaya kattai" in tamil) the whole night. It is also believed that we should offer tender coconut & pal payasam (a milk based dessert) to the Moon light and then offer it to Lakshmi & Indra.

Its believed , Lakshmi with Narayana along with her brother Indra who go round , during this time, it is Lakshmi who offers boon for the people who are doing the pooja & playing the dice during this time (hence KO - JAGARTHI - means who is not sleeping during this night).
This year it was observed on the 14th of October.