Last Updated:
Basant Panchami marks the arrival of spring and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge and arts. It is celebrated with vibrant yellow attire, prayers, and cultural rituals.
Basant Panchami will be celebrated on Sunday, February 2. (Image: Shutterstock)
Basant Panchami, sometimes called Vasant Panchami or Shri Panchami, is a sacred and important Hindu festival. It is observed on the first day of spring, which falls on the fifth day of the month of Magha. In India, mustard flowers blossom during Basant Panchami, a celebration that is linked to the colour yellow.
The festival commemorates the goddess Saraswati, who is revered as the embodiment of knowledge, creativity and music. Devotees celebrate the day by performing puja rituals and feasting on delicacies with their loved ones.
Basant Panchami 2025: Correct Date, Shubh Muhurat For Saraswati Puja
- As per Drik Panchang, this year, Basant Panchami will be celebrated on Sunday, February 2.
- The Vasant Panchami Muhurat is from 7:09 AM to 12:35 PM and the duration is 5 hours 26 minutes.
- The Panchami Tithi will begin at 9:14 AM on February 2 and end at 6:52 AM on February 3. In addition, the Vasant Panchami Madhyanha Moment is 12:35 PM.
Basant Panchami 2025: History
Legend has it that Kalidasa, the greatest poet in Sanskrit, was on the verge of drowning in a river after getting to know that his wife had left him. As Kalidasa was about to jump into the river, goddess Saraswati appeared out of it and asked him to not do so and rather take a bath in the water. Soon, his life changed as he gained wisdom and transformed into a gifted poet.
Another story involves the Hindu god of love, Kama, who is claimed to have interrupted Lord Shiva during a deep meditation following the death of his wife Rati.
The seers stepped in, pushing Kama to awaken Shiva from his concentration so that he might reconnect with the outside world and recognise Goddess Parvati’s efforts for him.
So, with his sugarcane bow, Kama shot flowers and beeswax arrows at Shiva. However, his actions enraged Lord Shiva, who opened his third eye and turned Kama into ashes.
On the day of Basant Panchami, Lord Shiva vowed to resuscitate Rati, Kama’s wife, after a 40-day penance. Later, he is supposed to have been born as Pradumna, Lord Krishna’s son.
Basant Panchami 2025: Significance
Basant Panchami is observed during a period when beautiful yellow flowers dominate rural India. Marigolds or genda, sheuli or night jasmine, yellow hyacinth, yellow lilies, and Forsythia shrubs are among the various yellow spring blooms found throughout the country.
This is the primary reason for yellow being the major colour of Basant Panchami, and as the name implies, ‘Basant’ relates to spring.
People dress in yellow, offer the Goddess with yellow flowers, and apply a yellow turmeric tilak to their foreheads on this day. This day also sees the decoration of Saraswati idols with yellow flowers and sarees of the same colour. Usually, even the offerings made to Goddess Saraswati are yellow.
Basant Panchami 2025: Rituals
- The festival commemorates Saraswati, the goddess of learning, who is adored by scholars, artists and students.
- People gather at temples on this day to worship the goddess in the hopes of being blessed with creativity, intelligence and understanding.
- Since the colour yellow is linked to the goddess Saraswati, a lot of people dress in yellow and get up early to adore her.
- Sweets and yellow flowers are offered to the goddess as part of the puja rituals.
- As part of the puja, hymns and mantras are recited in honour of the deity.
Basant Panchami 2025: Celebrations
- Vasant Panchami, also known as Saraswati Puja, is widely observed throughout India.
- Apart from that, different parts of India commemorate it in unique ways. People continue to dress in yellow and eat yellow rice, which is a common custom.
- In Punjab, the festival is known as Vasant Ritu and is celebrated as the Kite Festival.
- In Maharashtra, married couples celebrate their first Vasant Panchmi together by visiting temples dressed in yellow.
- During the Vasant Panchami festival in Bihar, the old statue of the Deo sun deity is cleansed and decorated.
- This is the day when people of Rajasthan wear jasmine garlands.
