Purnima 2026 — All 13 Full Moon Dates & Significance
2026లో మొత్తం 12 పూర్ణిమ తేదీలు ఉన్నాయి, ప్రతి హిందూ చాంద్రమాన మాసంలో ఒకటి. తదుపరి పూర్ణిమ - వైశాఖ పూర్ణిమ (బుద్ధ పూర్ణిమ) - 12 మే 2026, మంగళవారం రోజున వస్తుంది. పూర్ణిమ అనేది శుక్ల పక్షంలో పదిహేనవ తిథి, చంద్రుడు సూర్యునికి 180° దూరంలో ఉండి పూర్తి ప్రకాశమానంగా కనిపిస్తాడు. ఆధ్యాత్మిక సాధనలకు, వ్రతాలకు, దానాలకు మరియు సత్యనారాయణ స్వామి వ్రతానికి అత్యంత శుభ దినం. ముఖ్యమైన పూర్ణిమలు: బుద్ధ పూర్ణిమ (వైశాఖం), గురు పూర్ణిమ (ఆషాఢం), శరద్ పూర్ణిమ (ఆశ్వీయుజం), కార్తీక పూర్ణిమ (కార్తీకం - దేవ దీపావళి), హోళీ పూర్ణిమ (ఫాల్గుణం), రక్షా బంధన్ (శ్రావణం). అన్ని తేదీలు లాహిరి అయనాంశ ద్వారా నిత్య పంచాంగం లెక్కించింది.
Purnima (పౌర్ణమి) is the full moon day in the Hindu lunar calendar — the 15th tithi of Shukla Paksha when the Moon is exactly opposite the Sun (180° separation), fully illuminated. 2026 has 13 Purnimas — one per lunar month, plus Adhika Jyeshtha Purnima (31 May) in the Adhik Maas. The most celebrated are Buddha Purnima (Vaisakha, May), Guru Purnima (Ashada, July), Sharad Purnima (Ashwija, October), and Kartika Purnima / Deva Diwali (November). All tithi timings below are computed using Lahiri Ayanamsa for Hyderabad, IST.
Purnima Dates 2026 and 2027 — Complete List
| Date | Name (English) | Name (Telugu) | Significance & Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03Saturday | Pausha Purnima · Shakambhari Purnima | పుష్య పౌర్ణమి | Shakambhari Purnima, closing the eight days on which the goddess is offered vegetables and fruit. |
| 2026-02-01Sunday | Magha Purnima · Maghi Purnima | మాఘ పౌర్ణమి | Maghi Purnima. The last of the Magha bathing days at Prayag and the other tirthas. |
| 2026-03-03Tuesday | Phalguna Purnima · Holika Dahan | ఫాల్గుణ పౌర్ణమి | The full moon that closes the lunar year. Holika Dahan is lit on the evening the Purnima is running at dusk, which is sometimes the day before the one listed here; Holi is played the following morning. |
| 2026-04-02Thursday | Chaitra Purnima · Hanuman Jayanti | చైత్ర పౌర్ణమి | Hanuman Jayanti in much of India. The full moon that opens the lunar year. |
| 2026-05-01Friday | Vaishakha Purnima · Buddha Purnima | వైశాఖ పౌర్ణమి | Buddha Purnima — the Buddha’s birth, awakening and passing are all placed on this day. Kurma Jayanti falls here too. |
| 2026-05-31Sunday | Adhika Jyeshtha Purnima | అధిక జ్యేష్ఠ పౌర్ణమి | The extra lunar month of the year. It carries no festival of its own — those stay in the regular month of the same name — and is given to japa, charity and pilgrimage. |
| 2026-06-29Monday | Jyeshtha Purnima · Vat Purnima | జ్యేష్ఠ పౌర్ణమి | Vat Purnima. Married women circle the banyan and tie thread around it, as Savitri did for Satyavan. |
| 2026-07-29Wednesday | Ashadha Purnima · Guru Purnima | ఆషాఢ పౌర్ణమి | Guru Purnima. The day the teacher is honoured, and the day Vyasa is said to have been born. Chaturmasya begins. |
| 2026-08-28Friday | Shravana Purnima · Raksha Bandhan | శ్రావణ పౌర్ణమి | Raksha Bandhan, and Upakarma — the day the sacred thread is renewed. |
| 2026-09-26Saturday | Bhadrapada Purnima · Pitru Paksha begins | భాద్రపద పౌర్ణమి | The full moon that begins Pitru Paksha. The fortnight of ancestor rites starts the following day. |
| 2026-10-26Monday | Ashwina Purnima | ఆశ్వయుజ పౌర్ణమి | The Ashwin full moon. Sharad Purnima and the Kojagara vigil are kept on the night the Purnima is running at midnight, which is often the night before the day listed here — the Sharad Purnima page carries the observed date. Kheer is left out under the moon through that night and eaten at dawn. |
| 2026-11-24Tuesday | Kartika Purnima · Dev Deepavali | కార్తీక పౌర్ణమి | Kartika Purnima, Dev Deepavali. Lamps are floated on the river; the month’s deepa-aradhana ends here. |
| 2026-12-24Thursday | Margashirsha Purnima · Dattatreya Jayanti | మార్గశిర పౌర్ణమి | Dattatreya Jayanti. Also the full moon of the month Krishna names as his own in the Gita. |
| 2027-01-22Friday | Pausha Purnima · Shakambhari Purnima | పుష్య పౌర్ణమి | Shakambhari Purnima, closing the eight days on which the goddess is offered vegetables and fruit. |
| 2027-02-20Saturday | Magha Purnima · Maghi Purnima | మాఘ పౌర్ణమి | Maghi Purnima. The last of the Magha bathing days at Prayag and the other tirthas. |
| 2027-03-22Monday | Phalguna Purnima | ఫాల్గుణ పౌర్ణమి | The full moon that closes the lunar year. Holika Dahan is lit on the evening the Purnima is running at dusk, which is sometimes the day before the one listed here; Holi is played the following morning. |
| 2027-04-20Tuesday | Chaitra Purnima · Hanuman Jayanti | చైత్ర పౌర్ణమి | Hanuman Jayanti in much of India. The full moon that opens the lunar year. |
| 2027-05-20Thursday | Vaishakha Purnima · Buddha Purnima | వైశాఖ పౌర్ణమి | Buddha Purnima — the Buddha’s birth, awakening and passing are all placed on this day. Kurma Jayanti falls here too. |
| 2027-06-19Saturday | Jyeshtha Purnima · Vat Purnima | జ్యేష్ఠ పౌర్ణమి | Vat Purnima. Married women circle the banyan and tie thread around it, as Savitri did for Satyavan. |
| 2027-07-18Sunday | Ashadha Purnima · Guru Purnima | ఆషాఢ పౌర్ణమి | Guru Purnima. The day the teacher is honoured, and the day Vyasa is said to have been born. Chaturmasya begins. |
| 2027-08-17Tuesday | Shravana Purnima · Raksha Bandhan | శ్రావణ పౌర్ణమి | Raksha Bandhan, and Upakarma — the day the sacred thread is renewed. |
| 2027-09-15Wednesday | Bhadrapada Purnima · Pitru Paksha begins | భాద్రపద పౌర్ణమి | The full moon that begins Pitru Paksha. The fortnight of ancestor rites starts the following day. |
| 2027-10-14Thursday | Ashwina Purnima · Sharad Purnima | ఆశ్వయుజ పౌర్ణమి | The Ashwin full moon. Sharad Purnima and the Kojagara vigil are kept on the night the Purnima is running at midnight, which is often the night before the day listed here — the Sharad Purnima page carries the observed date. Kheer is left out under the moon through that night and eaten at dawn. |
| 2027-11-14Sunday | Kartika Purnima · Dev Deepavali | కార్తీక పౌర్ణమి | Kartika Purnima, Dev Deepavali. Lamps are floated on the river; the month’s deepa-aradhana ends here. |
| 2027-12-13Monday | Margashirsha Purnima · Dattatreya Jayanti | మార్గశిర పౌర్ణమి | Dattatreya Jayanti. Also the full moon of the month Krishna names as his own in the Gita. |
What is Purnima?
Purnima (पूर्णिमा, Telugu: పౌర్ణమి) is the full moon day in the Hindu lunar calendar — the 15th tithi of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha). On this day the Moon is in opposition to the Sun, completing 180° of separation, and appears fully illuminated. Each lunar month has exactly one Purnima, and there are 12 Purnimas in a typical year (13 in a year with an Adhik Maas).
Spiritual Significance
Purnima is considered an extremely auspicious day for spiritual practices, fasting, satyanarayan vrat, sacred bathing in rivers (Ganga snan), donation (dana), and worship of Vishnu, Shiva, and the Moon (Chandra). The full moon's cooling energy (saumya) is believed to enhance meditation, mantra repetition, and devotional activities. Many Hindus observe a full or partial fast on Purnima.
Most Important Purnimas of the Year
- Vaisakha Purnima (Buddha Purnima) — Birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Gautama Buddha
- Guru Purnima (Ashada Purnima) — Worship of one's spiritual teacher; also marks the birth of sage Vyasa
- Sharad Purnima — Considered the brightest moon of the year; Lakshmi's nocturnal vigilance
- Kartika Purnima (Deva Diwali) — Lighting of lamps in Varanasi; commemorates Shiva's victory over Tripurasura
- Holi Purnima (Phalguna Purnima) — Holika Dahan bonfire; Holi celebration the next day
- Raksha Bandhan (Shravana Purnima) — Sister-brother bond ceremony
How Many Purnimas in a Year?
A typical Hindu year has 12 Purnimas, one in each lunar month from Chaitra (March-April) to Phalguna (February-March). However, in a year with an Adhik Maas (intercalary month), there are 13 Purnimas. Adhik Maas occurs approximately every 32-33 months to keep the lunar and solar calendars synchronized.
Calculating Purnima Timings
The exact moment of Purnima (when the Moon is at 180° from the Sun) varies each month and may not coincide with Indian sunrise. For ritual purposes, Purnima is observed on the day during which the Purnima tithi prevails at sunrise (Suryodaya Vyapini Tithi) or at the time of the chosen vrat (e.g., evening Lakshmi puja). Nitya Panchangam computes Purnima entry and exit times using the Lahiri Ayanamsa for any city worldwide.