Guruvar Vrat (Brihaspativar Vrat): vidhi, katha and rules
Brihaspati dev and Lord Vishnu · Every Thursday
Guruvar Vrat is devoted to Brihaspati dev and Lord Vishnu. Many people keep it for 16 Thursdays, often starting on a Thursday in Shukla paksha. The colour yellow, chana dal and jaggery have a special place in this vrat.
🗓 Coming dates (Delhi)
- Thursday, 12 November 2026
- Thursday, 19 November 2026
- Thursday, 26 November 2026
- Thursday, 3 December 2026
- Thursday, 10 December 2026
- Thursday, 17 December 2026
- Thursday, 24 December 2026
- Thursday, 31 December 2026
Next Shukla paksha begins around Tuesday, 10 November
How it is kept (vidhi)
- Bathe in the morning, wear yellow and take the sankalp.
- Offer yellow flowers, turmeric, chana dal and jaggery to Lord Vishnu or Brihaspati dev.
- Many families worship a banana tree and pour water at its roots.
- Light a diya, read or listen to the Guruvar katha and do the aarti.
- Share the prasad and have one yellow meal in the evening.
Common practices
- Many people eat one yellow meal a day, like chana dal or something made of besan.
- Many families avoid salt on the day.
- In some homes, washing hair or clothes is avoided on Thursdays.
- As the banana is offered in the puja, many people keeping the vrat do not eat banana that day.
The katha
There was once a wealthy king who was very generous. But his queen did not like giving anything away. When someone came to the door, she would send them off empty-handed.
One Thursday, Brihaspati dev came to the palace dressed as a sadhu and asked for alms. The queen said she was tired of all this wealth and of looking after it. The sadhu smiled and told her a few things to do on Thursdays that would let the wealth go, as she wished. She did them, and soon the riches really were gone. Days became hard, and even simple food was difficult to find.
Then the sadhu came again. This time the queen folded her hands and asked how peace could return. He told her about the Thursday vrat: wear yellow, worship Lord Vishnu and the banana tree, offer chana dal and jaggery, and share with others. She kept it with a full heart. Little by little, the home filled with comfort again, and now the queen was happy to give.
The story is told as a gentle lesson about a giving heart.
Retold in our own words from the traditional story.
Udyapan
After 16 Thursdays, the udyapan is commonly done on the 17th Thursday. A Vishnu puja and daan of yellow cloth, chana dal, jaggery, turmeric and bananas are common, and many families feed a Brahmin or someone in need.
Questions
- When should I start the Guruvar Vrat and how many to keep?
- Many people begin on a Thursday in Shukla paksha and keep 16 Thursdays. Some families keep it for 1, 3 or 5 years. Choose what fits your family's custom.
- What if I skip a Thursday during periods or travel?
- Many families simply continue the next Thursday and do not count the one skipped. Your earlier count stays. You can decide what works for you.
This information is awaiting review by a pandit. Traditions differ by family and region.