Guru Purnima is celebrated as a holy day to pay tribute to and show gratitude to the mentors and gurus, or spiritual teachers.

Guru Purnima also holds significance in Buddhist traditions. It is believed that on this day, Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon, known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, to his five disciples. This sermon marked the beginning of the Buddhist community, or the Sangha, and the dissemination of Buddha's teachings.