Vasant Panchami 2027 Date – 11 February

The goddess of learning

Vasant Panchami falls on Panchami, the fifth lunar day of the bright fortnight of Magha, and is dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, speech, music and the arts. According to one account, Brahma created the world but found it silent; Saraswati appeared with her veena and gave it sound and speech. Schools, colleges and music schools hold Saraswati Puja, and students seek her blessings before exams.

Why yellow

Yellow is the colour of the day. It echoes the mustard fields in bloom across North India at this time of year and is associated with Saraswati and with spring. People wear yellow, offer yellow flowers such as marigold and mustard blossom, and cook yellow food – kesari bhaat (saffron sweet rice), boondi, khichdi and besan laddoos.

Celebrations across India

• West Bengal, Assam, Odisha and Tripura – Saraswati Puja is one of the biggest days for students. Pandals come up in schools and neighbourhoods, pushpanjali is offered, and books are left before the goddess, so many students do not study that day. Traditionally, kul (Indian jujube) is not eaten until it has been offered at the puja.
• Bihar and Uttar Pradesh – Saraswati idols are installed in homes and institutions and immersed the next day.
• Punjab and Haryana – Basant is celebrated with kite flying and yellow turbans and dupattas.
• Delhi – the Basant celebration at the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin, with yellow flowers and qawwali, is a Sufi tradition traced to Amir Khusrau.
• South India – Sri Panchami is observed in temples, and Vidyarambham ceremonies are held for young children.

Vidyarambham: a first lesson

Vasant Panchami is a popular day to begin a child's education (akshar abhyasam or vidyarambham). The child writes the first letters of the alphabet, often 'Om', in a plate of rice or on a slate with the help of a parent, teacher or priest. Musicians also worship their instruments, and artists their tools.

The start of spring

The festival also marks the beginning of Vasant ritu (spring) in the traditional calendar, and Holi follows about forty days later. In parts of North India, wood for the Holika fire begins to be collected from this day. Kamadeva, the god of love, and his wife Rati are remembered too, as spring is his season.

Vasant Panchami puja samagri (what you need)

• Saraswati picture or idol
• Yellow or white cloth
• Yellow and white flowers
• Books, pens and musical instruments
• Haldi, chandan and akshat
• Kesari rice, boondi or other yellow sweets
• Ber (jujube), bananas and seasonal fruit
• Kalash with water and mango leaves
• Diya and incense

How to do Vasant Panchami puja, step by step

1. Bathe in the morning and wear yellow or white.
2. Place Saraswati on a yellow cloth beside a kalash, with books and instruments in front.
3. Offer haldi, chandan, akshat and yellow flowers.
4. Offer the yellow sweets and fruit as naivedya.
5. Chant the Saraswati Vandana ('Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala') or 'Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah'.
6. Perform aarti; children may write their first letters or 'Om' on a slate.
7. Take back books and instruments after the puja and share the prasad.