Kajri Navami is a worship-ritual that falls on the waxing-moon fortnight of the
Shravan. It is generally observed by the women who are blessed with sons. Kajri Navami is also known by the names Kajri Purnima, Jwara Navami, Newla Navami and Savani. Goddess Bhagavathi is worshipped and fasting is observed on this day. This day is associated with a tale of
Panchatantra, in which a mongoose saved the son of a
Brahmin who unknown of the truth killed the mongoose.
On the Navami day, women go to a particular field and get some mud to sow Kajri (wheat). It is kept in conical cups made of leaves and these cups are kept in the inner room of the house, free from moisture and air. Before this, the room is washed with cattle-dung. A part of the wall is coated with the cattle-dung solution and designs such as figures of a house, a child in cradle, a mongoose and a woman with a pitcher are drawn on this part. The leaf-cup is taken out on the 15th day of Purnima.
In western parts of the country, this day is known as Nariyal Purnima and in the south as Shravan Purnima or Avani Avittam. On this day, fishermen-folk floats coconut in the sea.
