Gaura Purnima

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Gauranga)

ISKCON / Gaudiya Vaishnava

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Gaura Purnima celebrates the appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 CE) — the golden avatar who came to freely distribute pure love of God through the sankirtana movement of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Born in Navadvipa, West Bengal on Phalgun Purnima, he is revered as the combined form of Radha and Krishna

Dates 2026–2027

March 3, 2026March 22, 2027

Mantra

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Maha-mantra

O Hare! O Krishna! O Rama! — addressing the divine energy (Radha/Hara) and the Supreme Lord, calling for their mercy and engagement in devotional service

How to recite

Chant 16 rounds on tulsi mala (108 beads per round). On Gaura Purnima, sing Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pranama mantras and hear katha from the Chaitanya Charitamrita. An evening kirtan with the maha-mantra is especially powerful.

Benefits

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu declared the Hare Krishna maha-mantra the prescribed method of God-realisation for Kali-yuga. Chanting cleanses the heart and awakens pure love of God (prema-bhakti).

✦ Special Note

ISKCON devotees observe a complete fast (grain-free) until moonrise on Gaura Purnima, then break the fast with an ekadashi-style feast. The evening is filled with congregational kirtan, Chaitanya Charitamrita readings, and abhishek of Mahaprabhu's deity. Chant the maha-mantra 108 times and offer a ghee lamp. This is one of the most joyful festivals in the Vaishnava calendar.

Foods Allowed

Fruits of all kinds — banana, apple, mango, grapes, pomegranateMilk and dairy — milk, yogurt, gheeSabudana (tapioca pearls)Nuts and dry fruits — cashews, almonds, raisinsCoconut and coconut waterRock salt (sendha namak) on fasting daysPrasadam — all food sanctified by offering to the Lord

Foods to Avoid

Grains — fast is grain-free until moonriseOnion and garlic — never used in ISKCON prasadamMeat, fish, eggsAlcohol and intoxicantsUnoffered food — only prasadam is honoured

Meal Idea

A grain-free prasadam fast until moonrise — fruit chaat with rock salt and lemon, sabudana khichdi with peanuts, and milk payasam — all offered first to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

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