Heritage news
Holy daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festivalHoly daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festival
EveryParampara

Next: 18 Jul 2027

Guru Purnima

The full moon on which students honour their teachers: Hindu, Buddhist and Jain communities each keep it.

A pattern drawn for this day, not a photograph.

When is Guru Purnima in 2027?

Guru Purnima 2027 is on Sunday, 18 July 2027. Other years: 2026, Wednesday, 29 July 2026; 2028, Thursday, 6 July 2028.

About Guru Purnima

Guru Purnima falls on the full moon of Ashadha, and is the day to thank a teacher. In Hindu tradition it honours the sage Vyasa, who is said to have compiled the Vedas and been born on this day. Students offer flowers, fruit and gifts to their gurus, music and dance schools hold recitals, and ashrams hold satsangs. For Buddhists the day is Asalha Puja or Dhamma Day, recalling the Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath, and it opens the rains retreat for monks. For Jains it is when monks begin the four-month Chaturmas stay in one place. Teachers of every kind, including academic ones, are thanked.

Guru Purnima dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

YearGuru Purnima date
2026Wednesday, 29 July 2026
2027Sunday, 18 July 2027
2028Thursday, 6 July 2028

What is eaten

  • kheer
  • fruit

Traditions of Guru Purnima

Asalha PujaThe Buddhist observance of the same full moon.

Also part of it, and being written: Vyasa (The sage honoured as the first guru.), Chaturmas (The four-month period of retreat.).

More marked on Guru Purnima

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreGuru Purnimaगुरुपूर्णिमा A sacred South Asian festival honouring spiritual guides, teachers, and mentorsSpiritual · Feasts and festival meals 🇮🇳 IndiaChaturmasyaचातुर्मास्य A four-month sacred monsoon season of fasting, vows, and monastic retreat in IndiaSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast
About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Guru Purnima" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly EveryParampara

Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.