Question 1

What is Adhika Masa Purnima?

Accepted Answer

Adhika Masa Purnima is the full-moon tithi in the intercalary lunar month, also called adhika masa. It occurs only when an extra month is inserted into the lunar calendar, roughly every third year, and its month and Gregorian date change from one occurrence to the next.

Question 2

When should Adhika Masa Purnima be observed?

Accepted Answer

Adhika Masa Purnima is observed when the Purnima tithi of the bright fortnight is current at sunrise. The sunrise tithi governs the day, so the visible full moon in the evening is not alone enough to determine the observance date.

Question 3

How is Adhika Masa Purnima observed?

Accepted Answer

A simple observance can include bathing, a clean place of worship, an oil lamp, prayer, and charity. Since no single festival-specific procedure is established here, worship may follow the household’s normal full-moon or adhika masa practice rather than an invented fixed sequence.

Question 4

Does Adhika Masa Purnima occur every year?

Accepted Answer

No fixed Gregorian date can be given. Adhika masa can occur in different lunar months, and Adhika Masa Purnima therefore shifts from one occurrence to another. The relevant date is found from the Purnima tithi current at sunrise.

Date	Tithi	Lunar month	Governing time
Sun, 31 May, 2026	ShuklaPurnima	Adhika Jyeshtha	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Fri, 30 Mar, 2029	ShuklaPurnima	Adhika Chaitra	sunrise (udaya tithi)
Mon, 1 Sept, 2031	ShuklaPurnima	Adhika Bhadrapada	sunrise (udaya tithi)

Adhika Masa Purnima

Dates by year