In 2026, Vasant Panchami (also known as Basant Panchami or Saraswati Puja) is celebrated on Friday, January 23. This festival marks the arrival of spring and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, music, arts, and wisdom.
Significance and Rituals
- Goddess Saraswati Puja: Devotees worship the
Goddess of learning to seek blessings for wisdom and creativity. Students
often place their books and musical instruments near the idol.
- Colour Yellow: Yellow is the dominant
colour of the day, symbolizing the blossoming mustard fields and the
vibrancy of spring. People wear yellow attire and offer yellow flowers to
the deity.
- Aksharabhyasam: This day is considered
highly auspicious for initiating children into education (Vidhyarambham).
- Food: Traditional
yellow-themed dishes are prepared, such as Kesar Halwa (saffron-infused
semolina pudding) and yellow rice.
- Abujha Muhurat: The entire day is
considered an "Abujha" (automatically auspicious) day, meaning
major life events or new beginnings can be started without needing to
check for specific planetary alignments.
