Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja)
🗓️ Magha Shukla Panchami (Jan–Feb)
The story behind Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja)
Vasant Panchami falls on Magha Shukla Panchami and opens the season of spring. It is given to Maa Saraswati, who presides over speech, learning and the arts, and is worshipped in yellow — the colour of mustard in flower and of the season itself. The day is held to be an abujha muhurta, auspicious in whole without needing one calculated, and is traditionally chosen for a child's Vidyarambha, the first forming of letters. In Bengal, Odisha and Assam it is kept as Saraswati Puja in homes and schools alike.
Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja) Puja Vidhi
- 1
Snana & Peet Vastra
Bathe early and wear yellow, and place a yellow cloth on the chowki where the Devi is to be installed.
- 2
Saraswati Puja
Install the murti or image of Maa Saraswati, and offer yellow flowers, haldi, akshata, and a naivedya of kesar bhaat or boondi.
- 3
Pustaka & Vadya Puja
Place books, pens and musical instruments before the Devi and worship them; traditionally they are not used until the puja is complete.
- 4
Vidyarambha
Have young children write their first letters on a slate or in grain before the Devi, guided by an elder's hand.
Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja) Mantra
या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना। सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥
Meaning
She who is white as jasmine, the moon and a garland of frost, clothed in white, whose hand is adorned with the veena, who is seated on a white lotus — may that Bhagwati Saraswati, remover of all dullness, protect me.
How to chant
Recite at the start of the puja, and again before beginning any study on this day.