Basant Panchami 2023: Basant Panchami (also Vasant Panchami) is a major Hindu festival when Goddess Saraswati is worshipped. The festival is held on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha, which falls in the month of Magha. The day marks the start of the spring (vasant) season.
On Basant Panchami, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, Saraswati, is honoured and prayed to. People worship Goddess Saraswati in the hopes that She will bless them with enlightenment and help them overcome ignorance.
Saraswati, also considered the goddess of music and performing arts, is worshipped on Basant Panchami. While prayers and pujas are performed, it is also a day when parents introduce their toddlers to the world of letters, leading them to literacy and enlightenment. This is also referred to as Akshar Abhyasam or Vidyarambham (meaning initiation of education).
On this day, Devi Saraswati is worshipped with great devotion. Many devotees flock to temples, play music, and chant her name through the day. Mango wood and leaves, Kesar, Haldi, Akshat, Kumkum, Gangajal, Kalash, Naivedya, Havan Samidha, Chandan, Shodash Matrika, Saraswati yantra, and Durva dal are all required for the puja. On the day of Saraswati puja, wearing yellow is considered auspicious.
According to Drik Panchang, "Even though Saraswati Puja on Vasant Panchami day doesn't have a set time, one should make sure that Puja is performed when Panchami Tithi is in effect. Because Panchami Tithi frequently does not last the entire day on Vasant Panchami, we think it is crucial to perform Saraswati puja during Panchami Tithi."
Vasant Panchmi Puja Shubh Muhurat:
7:12 am to 12:34 pm in Delhi
6:18 am to 11:49 am in Kolkata
6:10 am to 11:36 am in Guwahati
6:36 am to 12:02 pm in Patna
6:46 am to 12:32 pm in Bengaluru
Panchami Tithi begins on January 25, 2023, at 12:34 PM.
Panchami Tithi ends on January 26, 2023, at 10:28 a.m.
*(As per Drik Panchang)