The festival of Basant Panchami (February 16) marks the arrival of the spring season in India. Its celebrated every year on the 5th day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Magha, which is usually around late Jan or Feb. The festival is dedicated to goddess Saraswati who symbolises knowledge, music and arts in Hinduism. Devotees carry out the Saraswati Puja rituals during Anubujh muhurta as thats considered to be an auspicious time.
The ideal time to pray to goddess Saraswati is in the morning during the Panchami (fifth) Tithi (date). However, the whole day is considered to be auspicious.
Start Panchami Tithi: It starts at 3:36 am on February 16
End of Panchami Tithi: It ends at 5:46 am on February 17
Vasant Panchami Muhurat: Between 6:59 am to 12:35 pm on February 16
Vasant Panchami Madhyanha: 12:35 pm
For the puja, one requires mango wood and leaves, Kesar, Haldi, Akshat, Kumkum, Gangajal, Kalash, Naivedya, Havan samidha, Chandan, Shodash Matrika, Saraswati yantra and Durva dal. People usually wear yellow clothes during the puja and prepare saffron sweets as prasad.
How to perform Saraswati Puja
To begin the Basant Panchami Puja, spread a yellow/red cloth on the wooden platform and then place the photo or idol of goddess Saraswati on it. Keep your books or your childrens school books at goddess Saraswatis feet.
Light a lamp using ghee/mustard oil or sesame oil and light a few incense sticks too. During your prayer, invite Maa Saraswati to accept your offerings and devotion.
This is the mantra commonly recited during a Saraswati puja:
Ya Kundendutusharhardhavala ya Shubhravastravrita ya Veenavaradandamanditkara ya Shwetapadmasana. Ya brahmachyut sankaraprabhritibhirdevai: Sada vandita sa maa patu saraswati bhagwati nissheshjadyapaha Shukla Brahmavichar Saar Paramamadya Jagadvyapini Veena-Pustak-Dharinimabhayada Jadyandhakarapaham. Haste sfatikamalika viddhati padmasane sansthitamtra vande ta parmeshwarin bhagvati buddhiprada shardamtra
We wish our readers a very Happy Saraswati Puja.
