Festival guide
Buddha Purnima 2026
बुद्ध पूर्णिमा
Buddha Purnima commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Gautama Buddha.
Ended
- Date
- Fri, 1 May 2026
- Tithi
- Purnima · Thu, 30 April, 9:12 pm – 10:53 pm
Plan the day
Good times and times to avoid
· Varanasi time (IST)
Auspicious windows
- Brahma Muhurta44m
- Amrit Kalam1h 45m
Times to avoid
- Dur Muhurta52m
- Rahu Kaal1h 38m
- Dur Muhurta52m
- Yama Gandam1h 38m
Sun and moon
- Sunrise
- 5:22 am
- Sunset
- 6:28 pm
- Moonrise
- 6:22 pm
- Moonset
- 5:15 am
The festival day's almanac
Panchang for Fri, 1 May
- Tithi
- Purnima, then Pratipada
- Nakshatra
- Swati
- Yoga
- Siddhi
- Karana
- Vishti
- Paksha
- Shukla
- Masa
- Vaishakha
- Tithi
- PurnimaFrom Until Then Pratipadauntil
- Nakshatra
- SwatiFrom Until
Choghadiya, day and night
Day
- ChalNeutral
- LabhGood
- AmritGood
- KaalAvoid
- RogAvoid
- ShubhGood
- UdvegAvoid
- ChalNeutral
Night
- RogAvoid
- KaalAvoid
- LabhGood
- UdvegAvoid
- ShubhGood
- AmritGood
- ChalNeutral
- RogAvoid
The story
Buddha Purnima: significance and rituals
Celebrated on Vaishakha Purnima, it is sacred to Buddhists and Hindus alike (Buddha is considered the 9th avatar of Vishnu).
Rituals
Visit Buddhist temples and monasteries. Meditate and practice the Eightfold Path. Offer flowers, incense, and candles at Buddha statues. Practice charity and compassion.
Local colour
Buddha Purnima in Varanasi
Sarnath, just 10km from Varanasi, is where Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammachakkappavattana Sutta). Thousands of pilgrims from across the world gather at Dhamek Stupa and the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar on Buddha Purnima.
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