Vasant Panchami 2026: Date,Significance, Rituals & Saraswati Puja

Vasant Panchami is a festival celebrating the Goddess of Wisdom, learning, and art - Saraswati. According to the Hindu Calendar, this festival falls on the fifth day (Panchami), the lunar month of Magha. This festival marks the beginning of the Spring season and also carries cultural, and spiritual significance across India. On this day, people wear yellow clothes and yellow foods and also study. In 2026, Vasant Panchami will be celebrated on 23, January. The theme of this Vasant Panchami is Yellow which represents energy, knowledge, and prosperity. 

Table of Contents

1. Vasant Panchami 2026: Date and Time
2. Who is Goddess Saraswati?
3. Vasant Panchami Significance
4. Vasant Panchami Customs and Traditions
5. Vasant Panchami Historical Background
6. Vasant Panchami Puja Vidhi
7. What Should You Not do on Vasant Panchami?

Vasant Panchami 2026: Date and Time 

If you are celebrating the Vasant Panchami then you must know the date and time for the puja. Here are the dates and timing of Vasant Panchami according to the Muhurat:

Celebrate Vasant Panchami on Friday, January 23, 2026.

 Vasant Panchami Muhurat: 07:15 AM to 12:50 PM. 

Duration: 05 hours 36 minutes.

Panchami Tithi begins at 2:28 AM on January 23, 2026. 

Panchami Tithi ends at 1:46 AM on January 24, 2026.

Who is Goddess Saraswati?

Maa Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, music, the arts, and education. Goddess Saraswati is also known as Bharati (eloquence), Shatarupa (existence), Vedamata ('mother of the Vedas'), Brahmi, Sarada, Vagisvari, and Putkari. The name Saraswati refers to saras which means “that which is fluid". Goddess Saraswati is the wife of God Brahma (the creator). The Goddess Saraswati is often depicted as calm, dressed in a white saree, and seated on a white lotus. Her association with the white color represents purity, wisdom, and truth.

Vasant Panchami Significance

Vasant Panchami represents the arrival of spring season and symbolizes renewal, growth, and vitality. This festival marks the end of the cold season and start of the warmer season which is a very vibrant season. Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh are celebrated very grandly. This festival encourages the pursuit of knowledge, creativity, and wisdom. Vasant Panchami is much more than a festival, it is a celebration of life, learning, and the eternal quest for knowledge. Globally people celebrate this festival through cultural performances, workshops, and social gatherings.

Vasant Panchami Customs and Traditions

On this day, people perform many auspicious rituals that make this day very joyful:

• Kite Flying: People fly colorful kites in the sky and fill the sky with all the different types of Kites. This event is particularly performed in Gujarat and Rajasthan. This event of Kite flying represents enthusiasm and freedom. 
• Yellow Color: The theme of this festival is Yellow which represents energy, knowledge, and prosperity. On this day, people wear yellow attires, prepare yellow dishes like khichdi, and boondi ladoos, and use yellow flowers like sunflowers to decorate their place.
• Learning and Gaining knowledge: On Vasant Panchami, schools and colleges organize Saraswati Puja which encourages the students to learn new things. It is also common for children to write their first letters as a symbolic start to their learning.
• Worshipping Goddess Saraswati: Devotees worship Goddess Saraswati with yellow clothes, yellow flowers, and yellow sweets. The books, musical instruments, and other tools of learning are also placed on the side of the Goddess.

Vasant Panchami Historical Background

According to Hindu scriptures, Brahma, the creator of the Universe, was not happy with the silent and dull earth. To make the earth more vibrant and radiant, God Brahma created Goddess Saraswati who blessed the earth with knowledge, creativity, wisdom, art, music, and enthusiasm. After that, this day is marked as the day of celebration and a tribute to the goddess’s gifts.

Vasant Panchami Puja Vidhi

Performing Puja on this day is considered very special. Here is the Puja Vidhi for Vasant Panchami 2025:

1. Early Morning Bath: People wake up and take a bath early in the morning.

2. Cleaning and Decorating: You must clean the house and the Puja area. Decorate the place with flowers like marigolds and create rangolis. Place a picture of Goddess Saraswati on a yellow or white cloth. Arrange books, notebooks, pens, musical instruments, or any tools of learning and art near the idol.

3. Bhog Prasad preparation: Especially on Vasant Panchami, prepare yellow prasad to offer Maa. Yellow mithai (sweets) like boondi ladoo, Kesari halwa, and Kesar bhat. Also bring fruits, especially bananas, as they are very special. Puja thali must have turmeric, vermilion (kumkum), rice grains, betel leaves, and flowers to offer.

4. Invoking the Goddess: For initiation of puja, light a diya and incense sticks. Get some Ganga Jal on the puja to purify the puja sthal.

You can also recite Saraswati Vandana or mantras like "Om Saraswatyai Namah" to seek the Maa’s blessings.

5. Perform the Arti: Sing the Arti along with melodious Bhajans dedicated to Maa. 

6. Distribute the Prasad: Share the offerings (prasad) with family, friends, and neighbors after the puja ends.

What should you not do on Vasant Panchami?

Here are some things to avoid on this special day:  

• Dark Colors: Devotees should not wear dark-colored clothes. Instead, they should wear light colors, especially yellow, to bring purity to their lives.  
• Noise: Avoid making excessive noise and disturbances, especially during the Puja ceremony for Mata Saraswati.  
• Wasting Resources: Do not waste any resources; instead, save nature.