Gaura Purnima is a

Vaishnava Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...

festival that celebrates the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (; born Vishvambhar Mishra) was a 15th-century Indian saint who is considered to be the combined avatar of Radha and Krishna by his disciples and various scriptures. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna ...

(1486–1534), who founded

Gaudiya Vaishnavism Gaudiya Vaishnavism (), also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism, is a Vaishnava Hindu religious movement inspired by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) in India. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gaura or Gauḍa region of Bengal, with Vaishnavism meani ...

. It occurs on the

Purnima Pūrṇimā () is the word for full moon in Sanskrit. The day of Purnima is the day (''Tithi'') in each month when the full moon occurs, and marks the division in each month between the two lunar fortnights (paksha), and the Moon is aligned exa ...

(Full moon day) in the Hindu month

Phalguna Phalguna ( sa, फाल्गुन ) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Phalguna is twelfth month of the year, and corresponds with February/March in the Gregorian calendar.Henderson, Helene. (Ed.) (2005) ' ...

, usually falling in March or April. Gaura Purnima means "Golden Full Moon", a reference to Chaitanya. His followers spend this festival

fasting Fasting is the abstention from eating and sometimes drinking. From a purely physiological context, "fasting" may refer to the metabolic status of a person who has not eaten overnight (see " Breakfast"), or to the metabolic state achieved after ...

and chanting congregationally, then at moonrise a feast is enjoyed by all. It was celebrated on 1 March in 2018 likewise in 2019 the very auspicious day will be witnessed on or around March 21. Kirtan with Children

This festival is celebrated by

Gaudiya Vaishnava Gaudiya Vaishnavism (), also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism, is a Vaishnavism, Vaishnava Hindu denominations, Hindu religious movement inspired by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) in India. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gaura or Gauḍa region o ...

s as part of

Nabadwip Nabadwip (), also spelt Navadwip, anciently Nadia or Nudiya, is a heritage city in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is regarded as a holy place by Hindus, and is the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Famous for Rass fest ...

-mandala

Parikrama Parikrama or Pradakshina is clockwise circumambulation of sacred entities, and the path along which this is performed, as practiced in the Indian religions, Indic religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. In Buddhism, it refers only ...

.{{cite web, url=http://www.newgovardhana.net/node/241 , title=Gaura Purnima-ISKCON New Govardhana , publisher=www.newgovardhana.net , accessdate=2008-12-16 , url-status=dead , archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907180258/http://www.newgovardhana.net/node/241 , archivedate=September 7, 2008

References

External links

Gaura purnima www.mayapur.comGaura purnima www.krishna.com
Hindu festivals Religious festivals in India Festivals in West Bengal Public holidays in India March observances April observances Bengali Hindu festivals Observances held on the full moon

See also

References

External links