Narali pournima, Shravani Pournima, Rakhi Pournima or Raksha Bandhan these are the various names given to the festival. Naral means coconut and coconut is offered to the sea, so it is called as Narali Pournima. Narali Pournima is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Shravan and is also known as coconut day. This festival is mainly celebrated by the fishermen (kolis). On this festival the fishermen along with their entire community paint their boats and decorate it with flower garlands. Oil lamps are floated on the surface of the water and coconut is offered to the sea. While offering coconut to the sea, they pray to the sea to calm down, so that they can catch many fish. They also prepare sweet coconut rice and narali paak on this day.
On the same day, Raksha Bandhan is also celebrated. This festival celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. Sister ties rakhi (thread) on her brothers wrist, exchange gifts and eats delicious sweets like gulab jamun,barfi and chocolates. Sisters pray for the long life of their brothers and brothers promises to protect their sisters. In our school we also celebrate Raksha Bandhan. Teacher applies kumkum on children’s forehead, do aukshan, tie rakhi on each child’s wrist. Narali paak is distributed among the children as sweet.