गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुःसाक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नम: ॥
A day honoring the sacred bond between a guru and their disciple, Guru Purnima is a significant festival celebrated in Hinduism.
The festival falls on the full moon day of the Shukla Paksha of the Aashadh month according to the Hindu calendar with the festival being celebrated on the 10th of July in 2025.
The day is also celebrated to honor the birth of Maharishi Veda Vyas, also known as Guru Vyas. If you’re celebrating Guru Purnima 2025, here’s what you need to know about this festival.
Guru Purnima 2025: Significance And Celebration In India
When Is Guru Purnima?
The festival of Guru Purnima takes place each year on the purnima or the full moon day of the Shukla Paksha of the Hindu month of Aashadh. The day will fall on July 10 in 2025. In 2024, the festival was celebrated on July 21, whereas in 2026, it will fall on July 29.
Significance Of Guru Purnima
Gurus or teachers hold special significance in Hinduism as they are believed to be the guiding light in an individual’s self discovery and enlightenment.
The system of the ‘gurukul’ was prevalent in ancient India where students would spend their years of formal education at ashrams managed by gurus.
They’d not only learn technical subjects like mathematics, astronomy, language, and music, but also learn practical skills like martial arts, archery, horse riding, and much more.
Gurus in Hindu culture go beyond the textbook definition of a ‘teacher’. The religion believes that anyone who teaches you something valuable, regardless of their age, gender, caste, or creed, is a guru to you. More importantly, many Hindu beliefs also state the guru is even above God!
The festival is also celebrated to honor the birth of Maharishi Veda Vyas, one of the greatest gurus in Hinduism. He is credited with authoring the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata as well as many other sacred texts.
He’s also credited with editing and dividing the Vedas into the four parts we know today. As he was blessed with immense knowledge and wisdom, he is still revered as Mahaguru Vyas, meaning the greatest of the gurus.
Celebrating Guru Purnima 2025 In Hinduism
On this day, students recite devotional songs and hymns to honor their gurus. They seek blessings from their gurus by touching their feet, an act of seeking blessings in Hinduism.
Many also recite chants and songs from the Guru Gita, a holy text in memory of Maharishi Vyas. Students also offer flowers, sweets, and gifts to their gurus as ‘charanamrita’ or a divine offering by the students.
The day is not only meant to honor the relationship between a disciple and his guru but also the bond between children and their parents.
Hinduism believes that an individual’s parents are their greatest gurus – so even if they don’t have a guru officially, they must pay respects to their parents on this day. Children seek blessings from their parents by touching their feet and offering them flowers.
Guru Purnima in Buddhism And Jainism
Buddhist beliefs suggest that it is on this day that Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon to his first five disciples. It is after this sermon that Buddha formed the ‘sangha’ or a ‘group of disciples’.
On this day, Buddhists conduct a special ritual called ‘Uposatha’. They honor the eight important teachings of Gautam Buddha and practice in meditation and other spiritual activities.
While that was about the celebration in Buddhism, Jainism too has an interesting story behind the celebration of Guru Purnima.
It is believed that Gautam Swami became the first-ever disciple (ganadhara) of Lord Mahavira on this day. The day is celebrated in Jainism to honor this bond between Lord Mahavira and Gautam Swami.
Guru Purnima 2025 Celebrations In Modern India
Guru Purnima is still widely celebrated, especially in schools and colleges across India. Students write poems, make special greeting cards, bring flowers and gifts for their teachers and professors to express their love and gratitude.
Many students also organize special events of song and dance to honor and entertain their ‘gurus’. Schools and colleges also honor retired teachers and professors by inviting them to the school and presenting them with tokens of appreciation.
Guru Purnima celebrations in Indian schools and colleges are full of pomp and joy – a day where countless students express their heartfelt gratitude towards their teachers who shape them for a better future.
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Summing Up
Guru Purnima is a day celebrating the sacred bond between a disciple and a guru. The festival pays tribute to the relentless efforts of teachers who work tirelessly for their students.
So, go on, express your gratitude to your parents, teachers, and the people who’ve guided you so far in your life.
Happy Guru Purnima 2025!
