India Prepares for Basant Panchami on January 23, 2026

India prepares to celebrate Basant Panchami, also known as Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja, on Friday, January 23, 2026, honoring the Hindu goddess of knowledge, wisdom, arts, and music while marking the onset of spring. The festival, observed across the country with regional variations, will prompt school closures in several northern and eastern states to allow students and families to participate in the rituals.

The day falls on the fifth day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Magha, corresponding to January or February in the Gregorian calendar. According to astronomical calculations, the Panchami Tithi begins at approximately 2:28 a.m. on January 23 and ends at 1:46 a.m. the following day. The auspicious muhurat for Saraswati Puja spans from around 7:15 a.m. to 12:50 p.m., providing an ideal window for worship. Devotees traditionally dress in yellow attire, symbolizing blooming mustard fields and renewal, and offer yellow flowers, sweets, and saffron-infused dishes to the goddess. Homes and temples are adorned with yellow decorations, and participants recite hymns, mantras, and the Saraswati Vandana to seek blessings for academic success, creativity, and eloquence.