When is Guru Purnima 2024? Date, History, Significance and all you need to know

Guru Purnima is a day important to not just the Hindus, but also of importance to Buddhists and Jains. Guru Purnima is the day to honour and appreciate all the Gurus who have shaped your life and destiny and helped you be a better version of yourself. Be it the Guru in the form of school teachers, or the Guru who helped you set out on the path of meditation, yoga, and spirituality, or be it your mother and father who were the first Gurus of your life, Guru Purnima is the day to honour and appreciate them all and show them how obliged you are to be under their guidance.

In 2024, Guru Purnima falls on Sunday, July 21.
According to Drik Panchang, “Purnima Tithi Begins - 05:59 PM on July 20, 2024
Purnima Tithi Ends - 03:46 PM on July 21, 2024”


Guru Purnima has both historical and spiritual roots and is believed to have started with the Vedic traditions of ancient India.
It is popularly known as Maharishi Veda Vyasa's birth anniversary, who was one of the most important Gurus in history. He is the author of the Mahabharata and Puranas and is said to have read and classified the Vedas into different sections to make the Veda study easy for humans.
It is believed that Vyasa was born on this day, and thus to commemorate his efforts and the different Gurus who make our life worth living and easier at every stage of life Guru Purnima is celebrated.
For Buddhists, Guru Purnima is celebrated to honour Lord Buddha. It is believed that on this day, Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath after attaining enlightenment. This sermon, known as the ‘Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta’ set in motion the Wheel of Dharma. Buddhists commemorate this day by expressing their gratitude to Buddha and their spiritual teachers.


While the practice of observing Guru Purnima started years ago, it is still relevant today. It is especially important to teach kids the importance of respecting, honouring, and appreciating the men and women, who in the form of Gurus, make their life better and worthwhile.
Gurus have been the guiding lights since time immemorial. From Lord Ram who learned the scriptures through guidance from his Gurus, to Arjun who learned everything about warcraft from his Guru, a teacher has always been super important throughout history and in the present.
Honour your Guru
The word ‘guru’ in itself is very sacred when we think about it. It can range from our parents who teach us the highs and lows of life to the sellers we see roaming on the streets who can give the right people amazing business and sales lessons.
And no matter in what form we see them, a Guru is always someone who removes darkness and ignorance from the lives of others.
A day for spiritual growth
Guru Purnima is a time for self-reflection and spiritual growth. Students and disciples are encouraged to think about their spiritual and personal journey, re-think about their commitment to their teachings and lessons, and ask for their Guru’s blessings that will help them progress further.
Charity during Guru Purnima
Overall, while Guru Purnima is one dedicated to the teachers in life, it also attracts charitable and donating causes. Charity and donations are an important part of many religions and traditions, so even Guru Purnima witnesses things like these where people go out of their way to organise langars, bhandara, donations, and the like.


Guru Purnima is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm all around India and other parts of the world. Many devotees perform special pujas to honour their gurus. This often includes offering flowers, fruits, and other symbolic things to the guru's image or the guru in person.
Plus, for people who honour their spiritual gurus, this is a day to practise meditation and yoga alongside them as it helps them connect on a higher level.
On Guru Purnima people also take personal vows and resolutions to improve and better their spiritual practices. This could include commitments to regular meditation, ethical conduct, and other forms of self-discipline.

Another thing to remember on Guru Purnima is that while there is a day dedicated to Gurus, it is important to not limit honour and respect to one single day. A Guru has the power to change your life, and often they do just that. Be it in the form of a manager at work or a teacher in school, a Guru always wishes to take out the best from you. And so, remember that Guru Purnima should not be the only day where you respect, honour, and appreciate the teachers in your life. Do it as often as possible, respect them always, remember their contributions in your life all the time, and appreciate their efforts on both good and bad days.