Vasant Panchami

The Story

Beginning of spring (vasant); Saraswati's birthday. Saraswati emerged from Brahma's mouth to bestow speech and music on the universe.

Vidhi · How It's Done

• Yellow clothes worn (color of mustard fields and spring)
• Saraswati murti / image worshipped with yellow flowers
• Books, instruments, pens placed before Saraswati and not used (or used for first time — Vidyarambha)
• Recitation of Saraswati Vandana
• Vidyarambha for children — first writing of letters
• Yellow rice, yellow sweets prepared

Key Mantras

• या कुन्देन्दु तुषारहारधवला... (Saraswati Vandana)
• ॐ श्री सरस्वत्यै नमः
• Medha Sukta

Bhog · Festival Foods

Kesar bhaat · Kesar shrikhand · Boondi laddu (yellow) · Yellow halwa

Regional Variants

• · Punjab: Basant celebrations with kite-flying
• · West Bengal: Saraswati Puja in homes and schools — biggest student festival
• · Bihar/UP: Saraswati Puja in colleges
• · South India: connected to Sri Panchami; Saraswati Puja