Tuesday, 1 February 2028
Māgha · bright fortnight (śukla) Pañcamī · Uttara Bhādrapadā
☀About the day
- Lunar month
- Māgha
- Tithi at sunrise
- bright fortnight (śukla) Pañcamī · until 09:28
- Nakṣatra
- Uttara Bhādrapadā
- Sunrise · Sunset (Ujjain)
- 07:07 · 18:14
Vasanta Pañcamī
✦Significance
The fifth day of spring, sacred to Sarasvatī — goddess of speech, learning, music and the arts. Everything turns yellow: mustard fields, clothes, saffron rice. Children write their first letters, and books, pens and instruments are laid at her feet. It is a self-standing muhūrta for beginning any study or art.
📜The story from the scriptures
Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti-khaṇḍa 4–5; Ṛgveda 2.41.16
The Ṛgveda hails her: “Best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses, Sarasvatī.” The Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa tells that Kṛṣṇa himself first worshipped Sarasvatī and ordained that she be honoured on the fifth of bright Māgha, at the start of study; by her grace Vālmīki received poetry, Vyāsa the power to compose the Purāṇas, and Yājñavalkya, who had lost his learning through his teacher’s displeasure, regained it with a hymn that is still recited. A beloved telling adds that Brahmā, finding his new creation silent, sprinkled water from his kamaṇḍalu, and a goddess in white arose with a vīṇā; as she touched the strings, the winds, the rivers and all creatures found their voice.
🪔Regional traditions and folklore
Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Bihar keep Sarasvatī Pūjā in every school and lane, and children begin writing with Hāte-khaṛi; students do not touch books until the worship is done. Punjab flies kites over mustard fields; Rajasthan wears jasmine garlands; the Sufi shrines of Delhi have kept Basant with yellow flowers since Amīr Khusro. It is also remembered as the day Kāma and Rati are worshipped, and forty days later comes Holī.
🔥Pūjā and havan
The image or a kalaśa is set on yellow cloth; books, instruments, pens and inkpots are placed before it. White and yellow flowers, palāśa blossoms, sandal, yellow sweets, ber fruit and saffron rice are offered; the Sarasvatī-stotra and Sarasvatī-sūkta are recited; a homa with ghee, and children’s akṣarārambha — tracing “Oṃ” in rice.
ॐMantras and japa 2
सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं वरदे कामरूपिणि ।
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा ॥
sarasvati namas tubhyaṃ varade kāma-rūpiṇi | vidyārambhaṃ kariṣyāmi siddhir bhavatu me sadā ||
Meaning: Salutation to you, Sarasvatī, giver of boons, who take every form at will; I am about to begin my studies — may success be mine always.
Benefit: Recited before study, music and every new learning — for memory, eloquence and mastery.
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि ।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥
oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ | tat savitur vareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi | dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
Meaning: We meditate on the adorable radiance of the divine Savitṛ; may he awaken our understanding.
Benefit: The mother of the Vedic mantras — recited at sunrise, noon and sunset for clarity of mind, inner light and the blessing of the Sun.
📖Scriptural references 2
- Ṛgveda 2.41.16; 6.61
- Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti-khaṇḍa 4–5