Guru Purnima 2004
Honouring the guru, on the full moon of Ashadha — Vyasa Purnima.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:11
- Sunset18:52
- Fasting window (tithi)2004-07-01 · 20:28 → 16:37
- Parana (tithi ends)16:37
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Guru Purnima puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaGuru Purnima — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Guru Purnima celebrated?
On the full moon (Purnima) of the month of Ashadha, at the start of the monsoon — the fifteenth day of the bright fortnight. For this year's date, see the date shown above.
Why is Guru Purnima also called Vyasa Purnima?
It is kept as the birthday of Veda Vyasa, who divided the Veda into four, composed the Mahabharata and the Puranas, and is honoured as the archetypal guru of the tradition. Honouring the guru today is honouring the whole line of teaching reaching back to him.
How is Guru Purnima observed?
Disciples honour their guru — offering flowers, dakshina and respect, and touching the feet — or, where the teacher is absent, worship the Guru Paduka or image. Vyasa and the parampara are worshipped, and a resolve to study or practise is taken up.
What does the word guru mean?
By the traditional derivation, gu means darkness and ru the one who dispels it — the guru is the one who removes the darkness of ignorance. Guru Purnima is the day to acknowledge those from whom one has received true knowledge.
Other major festivals in 2004
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2004
- Vasant Panchami — 26 January 2004
- Maha Shivaratri — 18 February 2004
- Holika Dahan — 6 March 2004
- Holi — 7 March 2004
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 21 March 2004
- Ram Navami — 30 March 2004
- Akshaya Tritiya — 22 April 2004
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 19 June 2004
- Nag Panchami — 21 August 2004
- Raksha Bandhan — 30 August 2004
- Krishna Janmashtami — 6 September 2004
- Hartalika Teej — 17 September 2004
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 18 September 2004
- Anant Chaturdashi — 27 September 2004
- Pitru Paksha begins — 29 September 2004
- Sharad Navratri begins — 15 October 2004
- Durga Ashtami — 21 October 2004
- Maha Navami — 22 October 2004
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 22 October 2004
- Karwa Chauth — 31 October 2004
- Dhanteras — 10 November 2004
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 11 November 2004
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 12 November 2004
- Govardhan Puja — 13 November 2004
- Bhai Dooj — 14 November 2004
- Chhath Puja — 17 November 2004
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 26 November 2004
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 26 November 2004
- Hindu Festivals 2004 →