Purnima is the full moon day, which occurs once in a Hindu month. The Purnima is considered very auspicious to the moon worshippers and many Vratas and fasting are also observed during specific Purnimas. There are certain Purnima Tithis, which are celebrated for special reason. Those are- Guru Purnima, Dol Purnima, Buddha Purnima, rakhi Purnima etc.

Guru Purnima : The Day of full moon or Purnima in the Month of Ashadh(June-July) is traditionally celebrated by Hindus as Guru Purnima. This day is also known as Vyas Purnima as the day is celebrated in remembrance and veneration to sage Ved Vyas. Vyas was the Adi or original Guru, who wrote the Mahabharata and eighteen Puranas and classified the Vedas into four, namely Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. On this day the spiritual Gurus are worshipped and remembered by their disciples.

Buddha Purnima : Buddha Purnima is the most sacred day according to Buddhist calendar. This is the most celebrated festival among the Buddhists, which is observed with great enthusiasm. Buddha Purnima has special significance because on this day Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and attained Nirvana after eighty years of life seeing thousands full moon day. This strange threefold coincidence gives Buddha Purnima its unique significance.

The auspicious day is on the month of Vaisakha ( April-May). The Buddhists celebrate this day with prayer meets, group meditation, processions, worshipping the statue of Buddha, symposium and sermons on the life of Gautam Buddha, religious discourses, continuous recitation of Buddhist scriptures etc. The mahabodhi temple wears a festive look and is decorated with colorful flags and flowers. Also people from all over the world gather at Bodhgaya (where Buddha attained enlightenment) to celebrate the festival of Buddha Purnima.

Dol Purnima : Holi is observed as Dol Purnima in Bengal, which is the full moon day in the month of Falguna(February-March). The festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna. On this day, an image of lord Krishna is beautifully decorated with colored powders and flowers and is taken out in a procession, in a swinging palanquin. The palanquin is also decorated with flowers, leaves, colored clothes and papers. The procession proceeds forward with music and blaring of conch shells.

Dol Purnima is more significant to the Bengalis as it is the birthday of Maha Prabhu Sri Chaitanya. He was a great Vaishnava saint, who popularized the `Namsankirtana` of Srikrishna among the common people.

Rakhi Purnima : This is the Purnima in the month of Shravana (July-August), when Sisters tie a sacred thread or Rakhi on their brother`s wrist. Before doing so, they worship the god and then perform `Aarati`. Putting `Tilak` on the forehead of the brothers is also an important part of the whole ritual. Rakhi is tied with the prayer of long lives for brothers and the gesture reveals love and close bonding between brothers and sisters.

Madu Purnima : Madhu Purnima, which means honey-full moon is observed between the Budhhists in India and Bangladesh, specially in Chittagong area. It is the Purnima in the month of Vadra (August-September). It is believed that Buddha pacified his two groups of disciples who were arguing between themselves. One elephant and one monkey fed Buddha that day. The elephant brought fruits while monkey brought honey. The monkey was so happy with the thought that Buddha took food from his hand that he was leaping from one tree to another to express his boundless joy. But finally the monkey fell from the tree and died. However he got Nirvana by the grace of Lord Buddha.

Madhu Purnima is celebrated as a joyous day of unity and charity. The Buddhists bring honey to the monasteries on the day of Madhu Purnima.