About Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami falls on Magha Shukla Panchami, the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Magha, and heralds the arrival of spring. Mustard fields bloom yellow across North India around this time, and yellow becomes the colour of the day in clothes, flowers and food. The festival is dedicated above all to Goddess Saraswati, who embodies knowledge, speech, music and the arts.
Students, teachers, writers and musicians seek her blessings by placing books, pens and instruments before her image. In many homes young children are introduced to their first letters in a small ceremony known as Vidyarambha or Akshar Abhyasam. In West Bengal, Odisha and Assam, Saraswati Puja is a much-loved celebration in schools and colleges, with community pandals and cultural programmes. In parts of Punjab and Rajasthan, people fly kites, while in Braj the day marks the start of the long Holi season. Many families also consider it a favourable day to begin new studies or creative work.
How it is observed
- Worshipping Goddess Saraswati with white and yellow flowers
- Placing books, pens and musical instruments near the altar for blessing
- Wearing yellow and preparing yellow sweets or saffron rice
- Beginning a child's first lessons in letters (Vidyarambha)
- Attending Saraswati Puja at schools and community pandals
Vasant Panchami dates in past and coming years
| Year | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Wednesday, 14 February 2024 | Past |
| 2025 | Sunday, 2 February 2025 | Past |
| 2026 | Friday, 23 January 2026 | Past |
| 2027 | Thursday, 11 February 2027 | Next |
| 2028 | Monday, 31 January 2028 | Upcoming |
| 2029 | Friday, 19 January 2029 | Upcoming |
| 2030 | Thursday, 7 February 2030 | Upcoming |
Dates are calculated from the Panchang for New Delhi. Some regions may observe a day earlier or later.
Across India
Celebrated across India
The same season is marked in many ways. Where a region keeps the festival on a different day, its calculated date is shown.
West Bengal, Tripura, Assam
Saraswati Puja
Homes, schools and colleges set up images of Goddess Saraswati, and students keep their books before her. Young children often begin writing their first letters in a ceremony called Hate Khori.
Odisha
Saraswati Puja
Students worship Saraswati in schools and homes, and many children begin their education on this day with a ceremony called Khadi Chuan.
Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
Basant Panchami
People wear yellow, offer yellow sweets and flowers, and worship Saraswati in community pandals and schools.
Punjab, Haryana
Basant
The arrival of spring and the yellow mustard fields are celebrated with kite flying, yellow clothes and sweet saffron rice.
Delhi
Sufi Basant
At the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, qawwals in yellow sing spring songs and offer mustard flowers, a tradition linked to Amir Khusrau.
In Bengal, Odisha and Assam this day is celebrated primarily as Saraswati Puja.
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