Purnima Vrat 2024 Dates: A Comprehensive Guide to Auspicious Full Moon Days
The occurrence of “Purnima,” or the full moon, holds a special place in the complex tapestry of Indian culture and spirituality. The day of Purnima, which separates two lunar fortnights, is seen as lucky for new endeavours. In this essay, we shall examine the meaning of Purnima, its different manifestations, and the dates for Purnima Vrat in North and South India in 2024.
Purnima, the Nepali word for “full moon,” is the name for when the sun, earth, and moon line up in a straight line to form a syzygy of the Sun-Earth-Moon system. This alignment results in the full moon’s brilliant brilliance, which signifies the conclusion of a lunar month.
Date | Festivals |
---|---|
Thursday, 25 January | Paush Purnima Vrat |
Saturday, 24 February | Magha Purnima Vrat |
Monday, 25 March | Phalguna Purnima Vrat |
Tuesday, 23 April | Chaitra Purnima Vrat |
Thursday, 23 May | Vaishakha Purnima Vrat |
Saturday, 22 June | Jyeshtha Purnima Vrat |
Sunday, 21 July | Ashadha Purnima Vrat |
Monday, 19 August | Shravana Purnima Vrat |
Wednesday, 18 September | Bhadrapada Purnima Vrat |
Thursday, 17 October | Ashwin Purnima Vrat |
Friday, 15 November | Kartik Purnima Vrat |
Sunday, 15 December | Margashirsha Purnima Vrat |
In India, the diversity of traditions extends to the way lunar months are calculated. There are two primary calendar systems: Purnimanta and Amanta.
Purnimanta Calendar: According to the Purnimanta calendar, a lunar month is complete when it reaches a full moon day. This calendar is used in the states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, and Madhya Pradesh.
On the other hand, the Amanta calendar is followed in Assam, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tripura, and West Bengal. According to this calendar, a lunar month is considered to be complete when it ends on a day when there is no moon.
A full moon, the third of the four primary phases of the Moon, occurs when the sun and moon are separated by 180°. It is a day of heightened energy and significance in Hindu tradition. On Purnima, spiritual seekers find greater peace, and those filled with liveliness experience heightened joy. The auspicious day is believed to amplify one’s capabilities, opening doors to new opportunities.
Sharad Purnima: A Festival of Significance
Among the various Purnimas, Sharad Purnima holds immense religious importance. Celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month Ashwin, this day is particularly special as it marks the birth of Goddess Lakshmi, the epitome of prosperity and well-being.
The term ‘Purnima’ itself signifies the night or day of the full moon, and all full moon days are considered auspicious. However, Guru Purnima stands out with its unique significance. Occurring after the summer solstice in the month of Ashadha, Guru Purnima is the first full moon following this celestial event. It is a day of transition, symbolizing the transformation of the first yogi, or Adiyogi, into the Adi Guru, the first Guru. Devotees believe that receiving blessings on this sacred day can unlock new dimensions of existence, capability, and possibility.
For devotees, Guru Purnima serves as a shield of protection from Mother Nature, a day to receive profound blessings from the divine. It’s a time when new opportunities beckon humanity, offering the promise of growth and enlightenment.
To grasp the essence of Purnima fully, it’s essential to distinguish it from Amavasya, the new moon day.
Purnima vs. Amavasya : Purnima, known as the full moon day, stands in stark contrast to Amavasya, which is the new moon day or no moon day.
Lunar Phases : Purnima occurs when the moon is completely exposed to the sun, while Amavasya happens when the earth entirely blocks the moon from the sun.
Lunar Month : Both Purnima and Amavasya are separated by approximately 14.77 days within a lunar month.
Energy and Significance : Purnima is associated with positive forces and divine energy, making it highly auspicious in Hindu tradition, whereas Amavasya is believed to be a time when evil powers and negative forces prevail.
In conclusion, Purnima is not merely a celestial event but a profound spiritual occasion that signifies new beginnings and opportunities. With the Purnima Vrat 2024 dates in hand, you can plan your spiritual journey and embrace the divine energy that radiates on these auspicious full moon days. Whether you are a spiritual seeker or a devotee, Purnima offers a chance to rise, evolve, and connect with the deeper dimensions of existence.