Guru Purnima, an important Hindu festival honoring spiritual teachers and masters, is celebrated with different traditions and customs in different states in India. Here is a glimpse of how it is seen in different areas:
These ceremonies demonstrate the diversity and prosperity of Guru Purnima across India, which highlight the spiritual significance of the festival in reverence for the gurus and the various cultural contexts.
Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, Guru Purnima is seen with a mixture of traditional rituals and cultural performances. People visit temples and perform hymns in praise of their gurus, performing aarti (rituals with lamps). The day is also marked by distributing food and clothes to the needy.
Uttar Pradesh
Guru Purnima is celebrated with enthusiasm in Uttar Pradesh, especially in other spiritual centers along with Varanasi and Ganga. Pilgrims take holy dips in the river and visit temples to pray to their gurus. There are also lectures and satsang (spiritual ceremony) organized to honor the occasion.
Gujarat
In Gujarat, Guru Purnima is celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm. Followers of various spiritual traditions gather in temples and ashrams to pray and seek blessings from their gurus. The day is marked by singing bhajan (devotional songs) and participating in spiritual discussions.
West Bengal
In West Bengal, Guru Purnima is known as ‘Jyeshtha Purnima’, sees devotees paying homage to their gurus and spiritual leaders. Many people gather in ashrams and temples for cultural programs dedicated to special prayers, discourses and spiritual teachings.
Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, Guru Purnima is celebrated as ‘Guru Purnima Vramram’. Devotees pray fast and in temples and ashrams. It is a day to seek spiritual reflection and blessings from the gurus. Traditional music and dance performances dedicated to the gurus are also organized.
Kerala
In Kerala, Guru Purnima is known as ‘Vyaspuja’, where devotees respect the sage Vyasa, who is distinguished as a Guru and a literary person. Special rituals are performed in temples and cultural institutions, including chanting Vedic hymns and discourses on spiritual teachings.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, Guru Purnima is celebrated as ‘Vyas Purnima’, which honors the great sage Vyasa, which is believed to have been edited by the Vedas. Devotees visit temples and pray to their gurus, seeking blessings. It is also a day for students to express their gratitude to their teachers.
