Guru Purnima, the full moon of Ashadh, is one of the great gathering days of Gujarat, a land of sects, saints and ashrams. Followers travel to their guru's seat: to the Swaminarayan temples, to the Santram Mandir at Nadiad, to Bagdana for Bajrangdas Bapa, to Virpur for Jalaram. Schools honour teachers, and the fast of Gauri Vrat ends about the same time.
The story
Gujarat's first poet, Narsinh Mehta of Junagadh, was a teacher by song. In the fifteenth century he sang of Krishna in the lanes of the untouchables, and his hymn describing the true devotee as one who feels another's suffering became Gandhi's favourite prayer.
The day is Vyas Purnima, for the compiler of the Vedas, and the day monks of every order begin their monsoon retreat.
વૈષ્ણવ જન તો તેને રે કહીએ, જે પીડ પરાઈ જાણે રે
Call that one a Vaishnava who knows the pain of another
Narsinh Mehta, fifteenth century
How it is kept
- Guru pujanThe guru's feet or padukas are worshipped with flowers and sandal.
- DarshanDisciples travel to the guru's seat, often on foot.
- BhandaroA meal for all who come.
- SatsangA day of discourse and bhajan.
Why this date
Guru Purnima is the full-moon tithi of Ashadh, on the day it is present at sunrise.
Guru Purnima in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday | |
| 2027 | Sunday | |
| 2028 | Thursday | |
| 2029 | Wednesday | |
| 2030 | Monday | |
| 2031 | Friday |
More Gujarati festivals
14 JulyDevpodhi Agiyarasદેવપોઢી અગિયારસ
17 AugustRaksha Bandhanરક્ષાબંધન
24 AugustJanmashtamiજન્માષ્ટમી
8 MayAkha Trijઅખાત્રીજ
20 AprilHanuman Jayantiહનુમાન જયંતી
3 SeptemberGanesh Chaturthiગણેશ ચતુર્થી
Where to see Guru Purnima
In Gujarat
- Santram Mandir, NadiadGujaratA seat known for its service to the poor, with lakhs on this day.
- BochasanGujaratThe BAPS Swaminarayan fellowship's Guru Purnima assembly.
- Jalaram Mandir, VirpurGujaratThe home of Jalaram Bapa, where no offering of money has been accepted for years.
- Narsinh Mehta no Choro, JunagadhGujaratThe place where the poet held his gatherings.
Across India
- ShirdiMaharashtraThree days of festival at Sai Baba's samadhi.
- SarnathUttar PradeshWhere the Buddha first taught on this full moon.
- Mount AbuRajasthanGuru Shikhar, the peak of Dattatreya, just over the border.