This year, Guru Purnima will be celebrated on July 24, a day dedicated to teachers and mentors. The day is a full moon day of Ashada month. This day is observed by paying respect to their teachers or gurus who have guided them and imparted us with their knowledge and teachings. The day is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Ved Vyasa, the author and a character in the epic Mahabharata.

It is also believed that on this day Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh. According to the Gregorian calendar, the Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Ashadha, which coincides with June or July. The word ‘Guru’ is derived from two Sanskrit words ‘Gu’ meaning ‘darkness or ignorance’ and ‘Ru’ meaning ‘removal’. Hence, Guru is believed to be the removal of darkness from our lives.