Guru Purnima 2026 and 2027: date, muhurat and meaning
Quick answer
Guru Purnima 2027 falls on Sunday, 18 July 2027 (Delhi). Guru Purnima, the full moon of the month of Ashadha, is the day Hindus, Buddhists and Jains honour their gurus, teachers and mentors with prayers, gratitude and simple offerings.
Key takeaways
- 2026: Wednesday, 29 July 2026
- 2027: Sunday, 18 July 2027
- Each year's section explains which rule gave the date and how the muhurat was cut to the tithi.
- All times are for Delhi; abroad the tithi follows local time, so the date can differ by a day.
What is Guru Purnima?
Guru Purnima is also called Vyasa Purnima. Tradition holds that the sage Veda Vyasa was born on this full moon. Vyasa is credited with arranging the Vedas into four collections and composing the Mahabharata, so he is revered as the first teacher of the Hindu tradition. The word guru is often explained as 'one who removes darkness', and the day is about thanking anyone who has shown you the way.
The festival is shared across traditions. Buddhists remember it as the time the Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath, and Jain communities offer reverence to their teachers. It falls in the early weeks of Chaturmas, the four monsoon months when wandering monks traditionally stay in one place and teach, which is why ashrams are especially busy around this time.
How Guru Purnima is observed
Most families begin with a bath and a simple puja at the home shrine, placing a picture of Vyasa or their own spiritual teacher and offering flowers, sandalwood paste, rice and sweets. People who have taken initiation (diksha) from a guru visit the ashram, touch the teacher's feet, offer guru dakshina, a token of gratitude, and listen to a discourse. Many ashrams also serve a community meal.
In schools and in classical music and dance academies, students greet their teachers with flowers or small gifts; in both the Hindustani and Carnatic traditions the bond between guru and disciple is taken very seriously. Some people fast, host a Satyanarayan katha or give to charity. Across the diaspora, temples and yoga studios in the US, UK, Canada and Australia hold group prayers, and many people simply call an old teacher to say thank you.
Guru Purnima 2026: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Wednesday, 29 July 2026
Purnima (Shukla Paksha) is present at sunrise on this day (udaya tithi).
- Tithi
- 28 Jul, 6:19 PM – 29 Jul, 8:05 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 5:41 AM / 7:14 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 12:28 PM – 2:09 PM
We do not compute a separate puja window for this festival; the tithi timing and sunrise are given here.
Guru Purnima is observed on the day when the Ashadha full moon tithi (lunar day) is running at sunrise. Because a tithi can begin partway through one day and end on the next, the panchang checks which lunar day is in force when the sun rises in your city. The guru puja itself is usually done in the morning, and those who fast often offer water to the full moon in the evening before eating.
Guru Purnima 2027: date and muhurat (Delhi)
Sunday, 18 July 2027
Purnima (Shukla Paksha) is present at sunrise on this day (udaya tithi).
- Tithi
- 17 Jul, 6:48 PM – 18 Jul, 9:14 PM
- Sunrise / sunset
- 5:35 AM / 7:20 PM
- Rahu kaal (this day)
- 5:37 PM – 7:20 PM
We do not compute a separate puja window for this festival; the tithi timing and sunrise are given here.
Guru Purnima wishes
To the teachers who lit the lamp and showed us the path, thank you. Wishing you and your family a blessed Guru Purnima.Send this on WhatsApp
More wishes will be added here soon.
Related festivals and lists
Frequently asked questions
Who should I worship on Guru Purnima?
Traditionally the day honours Veda Vyasa, regarded as the first guru. Beyond that, you can offer respect to your spiritual teacher, a schoolteacher, a music or dance guru, your parents, or anyone who guided you. Many people with no formal guru worship Lord Shiva as the original teacher (Adi Guru) or Krishna as the teacher of the world. The spirit of the day is gratitude, not ritual perfection.
Is Guru Purnima a Hindu or Buddhist festival?
It is both, and Jains observe it too. For Hindus it is Vyasa Purnima, honouring the sage who compiled the Vedas. For Buddhists it marks the time when the Buddha delivered his first sermon to five companions at Sarnath, setting his teaching in motion. Jain communities use the day to honour their acharyas. Each tradition keeps its own rituals, but all of them centre on respect for teachers.
How do you keep a Guru Purnima fast?
The fast is optional. Those who keep it usually bathe early, do the morning puja and eat only fruit, milk or simple fasting foods through the day. In the evening they look at the full moon, offer it water and then have a light vegetarian meal. Some families add a Satyanarayan katha. Elderly, pregnant or unwell people often keep a lighter fast or simply do the puja.
What can I give my teacher on Guru Purnima?
Guru dakshina is about the feeling behind it rather than the price. Flowers, fruit, sweets, a book, a shawl or a handwritten note are all common choices. Students living abroad often send a message or call a teacher back in India. Many ashrams put dakshina towards feeding people or running schools, so a donation to that kind of work is also seen as a fitting offering.
Why is Guru Purnima celebrated in the monsoon?
The festival falls on the full moon of Ashadha, which arrives as the monsoon settles over most of India. In earlier times travel became difficult in the rains, so monks and teachers stopped wandering and stayed in one village for four months, a period called Chaturmas. Disciples gathered around them to learn, and honouring the teacher at the start of this season became a natural custom.
How is the date of Guru Purnima decided?
It is the full moon (Purnima) of the bright half of Ashadha. The festival is kept on the day when the Purnima tithi is in force at local sunrise. Because sunrise differs from place to place, the date can occasionally differ between India and countries in other time zones. Checking a panchang set to your own city gives the most reliable answer; Shubhkal's festival dates are calculated for Delhi.