The annual Sharad Purnima festival held on Ashwin Purnima day is of great significance in the famous Shri Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. It is the only day in the year when the murti of Banke Bihari holds the murali or the flute. It is also the day of Maharaas. Shri Banke Bihari temple Sharad Purnima festival 2024 date is October 16.
The murti of Banke Bihari is adorned in the Maharas posture. In the afternoon, the jagmohan (i.e. the elevated hall in front of sanctum sanctorum) is decorated to give a forest like look by putting up branches of flowering trees. A silver hut is placed in the center to serve as the throne. Entire temple courtyard is also tastefully decorated with plantain, bushes, trees, flowers and hangings.
Shri Banke Bihari is dressed up in all whites on the day.
Thousands of devotees throng the temple to have darshan of Bhagavan Krishna (Banke Bihari) holding the flute near his lips. On all other days the flute is just kept at the throne on the right side along with the small water container.
The crown that is worn by the murti is also different. It is similar to the one worn by Srinathji.
According to legends this crown or mukut was designed by Shri Vallabhacharya, Swami Haridas and other contemporary saints for Shri Krishna. Afterwards the same crown was adopted as standard for stage performance of rasleela. Whenever you witness a rasleela performance you always see Krishna having the same crown.
Moon is granted a very special favor to touch the feet of Shri Bihariji today. Shri Banke Bihari stands in west side looking to east and the moon rises in east on purnima day. The shutters on the grill covering courtyard of the temple are moved out so as to permit the moonlight in. Darshan in this evening remain open till such time the moonlight reaches the feet of Bhagavan Banke Bihari. The moon thus blessed, is believed to spread the blessings all over by its rays. Therefore devout Hindus all over make it a point to prepare kheer, the payasam, in the evening and keep in the moonlight till around midnight and then it is distributed as Prasad.