About Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja)
Vasant Panchami, also known as Saraswati Puja, honours Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning, music, and the arts. The festival also welcomes the arrival of spring, a season associated with renewal, growth, and new beginnings. Celebrated widely across India, it is a day to seek the blessings of wisdom and creativity, cherished especially by students, teachers, artists, and musicians who pray for insight and success in their pursuits.
Devotees dress in yellow, the colour symbolising the vibrancy of spring and ripening mustard fields, and offer prayers to Saraswati. Idols of the goddess are worshipped in homes, schools, and pandals, and books, pens, and musical instruments are placed before her in reverence. The day is considered especially auspicious for beginning education, and many young children take part in Vidyarambham or Akshar-Abhyasam, writing their first letters. Eastern India, including Bengal, holds particularly vibrant celebrations.
Vasant Panchami follows the Hindu lunar calendar, observed on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Magha, so its Gregorian date varies each year, usually falling in late January or February. Because the date is set anew annually, the live countdown above tracks the next occurrence for you. You are welcome to add this countdown to your own page and follow the days remaining until the celebration.
Upcoming dates
| 2027 | Thursday, February 11, 2027next |
| 2029 | Friday, January 19, 2029 |
FAQ
When is Vasant Panchami this year and what date does it fall on?
It falls on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Magha, usually in late January or February. As it follows the Hindu lunar calendar, the Gregorian date changes each year; the countdown above shows the next date.
Why is Vasant Panchami celebrated?
It honours Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, learning, and the arts, and welcomes the arrival of spring. Devotees seek her blessings for wisdom, creativity, and success in study.
How is Vasant Panchami celebrated?
People wear yellow, offer prayers to Saraswati, and place books, pens, and instruments before her idol. Schools and homes hold worship, and many begin learning or new ventures on this auspicious day.
Why do people wear yellow on Vasant Panchami?
Yellow symbolises the vibrancy of spring and the blossoming mustard fields of the season. Wearing it is considered auspicious and expresses the joy and energy of the festival.