Hindu festival · San Francisco Bay Area

Guru Purnima

Vedic Pan-India Major observance Vyasa / Guru

Dates for the Bay Area

  • Tuesday, 28 July 2026Major observance
  • Saturday, 17 July 2027Major observancenext
  • Wednesday, 5 July 2028Major observance
Traditions differ. What follows describes common practice, not the only correct practice. Observance varies by region, sampradāya and family, and Sri Kumar Gurukkal will follow your family’s tradition. Our editorial & ritual standards →

Why it matters

Honors the guru principle—the transmission of wisdom from teacher to student—and is also associated with Vyasa, compiler and teacher of sacred literature.

The story behind it

Disciples remember spiritual teachers, renew commitments to study and practice, and express gratitude for guidance.

Prayers and worship

Guru pooja, Vyasa pooja, paduka pooja in some traditions, scripture study, bhajans, meditation and offerings to teachers.

Fasting and devotional customs

Fasting and household customs vary; follow the temple or family tradition for this observance.

What is typically offered

Flowers, fruit, cloth or dakshina according to tradition, books and lamps.

Visiting a temple that day

Different lineages may focus on their own guru-parampara. Visitors should observe respectfully when disciples perform lineage-specific rituals.

Spiritual themes

Gratitude, humility, study, lineage and spiritual discipline.

Request this pooja

Ask Sri Kumar Gurukkal about a pooja for Guru Purnima — at your home, at a temple, or with family joining remotely. A request is an enquiry, not a booking.

Request a pooja Add 17 Jul 2027 to calendar

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Related festivals

BhogiLohriKaanum PongalMauni AmavasyaGudi PadwaAll Pūrṇimā dates
← Gujarati New YearHoli → Full festival calendar

The 2026–27 dates were compiled from a Northern-California Panchāṅgam reference for the Fremont / Bay Area location. The 2028 date is computed by this site’s own engine from the festival’s standard definition, tested against the 2026–27 dates: Āṣāḍha śukla pūrṇimā, judged at madhyāhna — the third fifth of sunrise to sunset. No 2028 date has been checked against a printed almanac or reviewed by Sri Kumar Gurukkal. They can differ from a calendar computed for another city or another sampradāya. Please confirm any date on which you plan a ceremony with Sri Kumar Gurukkal. How these dates are calculated →