Guru Purnima is a festival that is celebrated traditionally by Buddhists and Hindus. But it is actually the festival of Hindus. It is celebrated to honor the academic and spiritual teachers. ‘Guru’ is a word that is used for a person who enlightens some other people by sharing his/her valuable knowledge. A guru is considered to be an integral part of any person’s life. Thus it is on the day of Guru Purnima that disciples pay respect or offer puja to their spiritual guide (guru). The festival is celebrated in the months of June-July (Ashadh) and that also on a full moon day (Purnima).
Buddhists celebrate Guru Purnima to honor Lord Buddha who had preached the Dharma for the very first time on this very day in a place called Sarnath (a deer park in Uttar Pradesh). On the other hand, the Hindus celebrate Guru Purnima to pay respect to the great Guru Vyasa who was perhaps born on the day this festival is celebrated. Guru Vyasa is the one who had written the four Vedas and he symbolizes the tradition of Guru-Shishya.
Guru Purnima Date - When Guru Purnima is Celebrated?
The date of celebrating Guru Purnima keeps changing every year. Click here to check the future Guru Purnima dates. This festival has significance not only in the lives of the Buddhists and Hindus. People belonging to different caste celebrate Guru Purnima so that they can appropriately thank the Gurus who have played important part in their lives. You will notice that the students belonging to the different universities, colleges and schools also celebrate Guru Purnima with sheer dedication by organizing entertaining events for their teachers.