Guru Purnima is the full moon of Ashadh, set apart for whoever taught you: the schoolteacher, the ustad, the family guru, the saint. It is kept as the birthday of Ved Vyas, compiler of the Vedas and author of the Mahabharata. Ashrams at Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi fill with disciples, and around Mathura millions walk the circuit of Govardhan hill.
The story
Vyas is the first guru of the tradition, and the seat from which scripture is expounded bears his name. The Buddha preached his first sermon at Sarnath, outside Varanasi, on this full moon, and Buddhists keep it as Dhamma Day.
The yogic tradition says it was on this day that Shiva, the Adi Guru, began to teach the seven sages. And Kabir, the weaver-saint of Varanasi, gave the north the couplet it still quotes: faced with both, bow first to the guru, for it was he who pointed out God.
गुरु गोविंद दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय । बलिहारी गुरु आपने, गोविंद दियो बताय ॥
Guru and God both stand before me; whose feet shall I touch? I give myself to my guru, who showed me God
A doha of Kabir
How it is kept
- Guru pujaDisciples wash the guru's feet or garland his picture, and offer fruit, cloth and dakshina.
- Vyas pujaMathas worship Vyas and the lineage; monks begin Chaturmas, staying in one place through the rains.
- Mudiya PunoAt Govardhan a huge fair gathers for the twenty-one-kilometre walk round the hill.
- SatsangThe day is spent in the guru's company, listening.
Why this date
Guru Purnima is the full-moon tithi of Ashadh, kept on the day it is present at sunrise.
Guru Purnima in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday | |
| 2027 | Sunday | |
| 2028 | Thursday | |
| 2029 | Wednesday | |
| 2030 | Monday | |
| 2031 | Friday |
More North Indian festivals
14 JulyDevshayani Ekadashiदेवशयनी एकादशी
17 AugustRaksha Bandhanरक्षा बंधन
24 AugustKrishna Janmashtamiश्री कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी
8 MayAkshaya Tritiyaअक्षय तृतीया
20 AprilHanuman Jayantiहनुमान जयंती
4 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiगणेश चतुर्थी
Where to see Guru Purnima
In North India
- GovardhanUttar PradeshThe Mudiya Puno fair: millions walk round the hill Krishna lifted.
- SarnathUttar PradeshWhere the Buddha set the wheel of teaching in motion on this full moon.
- RishikeshUttarakhandThe ashrams along the Ganga hold their largest gatherings of the year.
- MagharUttar PradeshWhere Kabir died, honoured by Hindus and Muslims in adjoining shrines.
Across India
- ShirdiMaharashtraThree days of festival at the samadhi of Sai Baba.
- SringeriKarnatakaThe Shankaracharya performs Vyas Puja and begins his Chaturmas.
- GanagapuraKarnatakaThe chief seat of the Dattatreya tradition.