Guru Purnima 2011
Honouring the guru, on the full moon of Ashadha — Vyasa Purnima.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:16
- Sunset18:51
- Fasting window (tithi)2011-07-14 · 12:46 → 12:09
- Parana (tithi ends)12:09
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 2011
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2011
- Vasant Panchami — 8 February 2011
- Maha Shivaratri — 2 March 2011
- Holika Dahan — 19 March 2011
- Holi — 20 March 2011
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 4 April 2011
- Ram Navami — 12 April 2011
- Akshaya Tritiya — 6 May 2011
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 3 July 2011
- Nag Panchami — 4 August 2011
- Raksha Bandhan — 13 August 2011
- Krishna Janmashtami — 21 August 2011
- Hartalika Teej — 31 August 2011
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 1 September 2011
- Anant Chaturdashi — 11 September 2011
- Pitru Paksha begins — 13 September 2011
- Sharad Navratri begins — 28 September 2011
- Durga Ashtami — 4 October 2011
- Maha Navami — 5 October 2011
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 6 October 2011
- Karwa Chauth — 15 October 2011
- Dhanteras — 24 October 2011
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 25 October 2011
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 26 October 2011
- Govardhan Puja — 27 October 2011
- Bhai Dooj — 28 October 2011
- Chhath Puja — 1 November 2011
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 10 November 2011
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 10 November 2011
- Hindu Festivals 2011 →