Purnima
Also called Pournami, Full Moon
When
Thursday, 27 August 2026 today
New Delhi ยท change location
See the complete panchang for that day โ
Why this date?
The full moon tithi. Where a Satyanarayana puja is performed, the traditional period is the evening; the day is otherwise reckoned by the tithi at sunrise for fasting purposes.
- Computed by the panchanga engine for your location
- Follows a written selection rule, not a copied list
- Governed by the whole day rather than a specific period
- The written guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar
Dates come from the calculation engine and are independent of the written guide. How we calculate โ
Dates in the coming years
- Thursday, 27 August 2026 today
- Saturday, 26 September 2026 in 30 days
- Sunday, 25 October 2026 in 59 days
- Tuesday, 24 November 2026 in 89 days
- Wednesday, 23 December 2026 in 118 days
- Friday, 22 January 2027 in 148 days
- Monday, 22 March 2027 in 207 days
- Tuesday, 20 April 2027 in 236 days
Published to 2030. Later years appear as the dataset is extended and validated.
What In short
The monthly full moon. Kept with a fast in many households, and very commonly with the Satyanarayana vrata katha.
- Deity: Vishnu; Satyanarayana
- Recurs: monthly
Why The reason behind it
The full moon carries the month's completion. Several of the year's largest festivals โ Holi, Guru Purnima, Raksha Bandhan, Sharad Purnima, Kartik Purnima โ are simply particular Purnimas, which is why the monthly observance is the base on which they sit.
Traditional basis
Skanda Purana, Reva Khanda โ The Satyanarayana vrata katha, the most commonly performed household puja in India.
Nibandha texts on Purnima vrata โ The fast and its rules.
How At home, step by step
- Bathe early and take the sankalpa for the fast if keeping one.
- Where the household performs the Satyanarayana puja, set it in the evening and invite others to hear the katha.
- Offer the sapatha-bhoga โ the traditional wheat-flour, banana and milk prasada.
- Break the fast after the moon is visible.
What you'll need
- Banana, wheat flour (rava), sugar, ghee and milk for the prasada
- Tulsi leaves
- Betel leaves and nuts
- A ghee lamp
Fasting and breaking the fast
A single-meal fast is common; a full fast broken after moonrise is also kept.
Fasting guidance here describes traditional practice. It is not medical advice โ if you are pregnant, diabetic, on medication or unwell, ask a doctor about your own circumstances.
For children
Every full moon is a small festival, and some of the biggest festivals of the year are just extra-special full moons.
Common questions
- Do I need a priest for the Satyanarayana puja?
- No. It is specifically a household puja and the katha is written to be read aloud by the householder. Many families do call a priest, but the rite does not require one.
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar or practising priest. The dates and times on this page come from the calculation engine and are independent of it; the explanatory text is editorial and may not reflect your family's practice. Tell us if something is wrong.