People of Bengal, Assam and Odisha worship Lakshmi on Kojagori Purnima night, i.e. the full moon night in the month of Aswin (Bengali calendar), barely 4 days after Durga Puja . Kojagori has a significant meaning as it stands for who is awake? Or Ke Jege Ache in Bengali. It is believed that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, light and prosperity visits every household on this full moon night and bless them. Incidentally Kojagori Lakshmi Puja or Kojagori Purnima coincides with Navanna or the harvesting festival. It is also a common belief that in order to guide Lakshmi, the consort of Narayana, residents lit up diyas, candles, earthen  lamps on the terraces or balconies. It is a custom in which the lights remain on till the last day of month of Aswin.

According to folklore, Valit, a Brahmin from Magadha, left home one full moon night tired of his wife Mahachandi’s errant for being poor. Valit while wandering in the woods confronted 3 Nagkanyas or daughters of a serpent worshiping Goddess Lakshmi by performing a Vrath or fast  and offered Valit to play a game of dice with them in order to keep awake. Goddess Lakshmi who was on vigil observed Valit closely and in spite of his loss in the dice game, was impressed with his honestly and religious gestures and blessed him with wealth and fortune by winning the game and he returned home with tons of gold. It is believed that performing fast on this auspicious night is beneficial for gaining wealth and prosperity,  and therefore women play game of dice till wee hours in the night to keep awake.