Guru Purnima 2013
Honouring the guru, on the full moon of Ashadha — Vyasa Purnima.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:20
- Sunset18:48
- Fasting window (tithi)03:28 → 23:44
- Parana (tithi ends)23:44
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 2013
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2013
- Vasant Panchami — 15 February 2013
- Maha Shivaratri — 10 March 2013
- Holika Dahan — 26 March 2013
- Holi — 28 March 2013
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 11 April 2013
- Ram Navami — 19 April 2013
- Akshaya Tritiya — 12 May 2013
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 10 July 2013
- Nag Panchami — 12 August 2013
- Raksha Bandhan — 21 August 2013
- Krishna Janmashtami — 28 August 2013
- Hartalika Teej — 8 September 2013
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 9 September 2013
- Anant Chaturdashi — 18 September 2013
- Pitru Paksha begins — 20 September 2013
- Sharad Navratri begins — 5 October 2013
- Durga Ashtami — 12 October 2013
- Maha Navami — 13 October 2013
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 13 October 2013
- Karwa Chauth — 22 October 2013
- Dhanteras — 1 November 2013
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 2 November 2013
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 3 November 2013
- Govardhan Puja — 4 November 2013
- Bhai Dooj — 5 November 2013
- Chhath Puja — 8 November 2013
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 17 November 2013
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 17 November 2013
- Hindu Festivals 2013 →