Basant Panchami 2024: Step-By-Step Guide to Perform Saraswati Puja at Home

Saraswati Puja, which marks the arrival of spring, falls on the fifth day of Magha month in The Hindu Calendar. Saraswati Puja is performed on the occasion of Basant Panchami. Maa Saraswati is beloved to be the goddess of knowledge, learning and wisdom and is worshipped by students, professionals, artists and musicians seeking academic strengths, artistic and technical skills as well as good health. This year, Saraswati Puja falls on February 14, Wednesday.

Interestingly, it is a ritual for students on the day of Basant Panchami to keep their books at the feet of the goddess and seek blessings to succeed in examinations. Saraswati Puja is prevalent in the eastern part of India and is celebrated every year with grandeur.

While you can always get the puja performed by a priest, if you want to do it yourself, we have got your covered. Below is a guide to perform Saraswati Puja at home.

Saraswati Puja 2024 Date and Shubh Muhurat

This year, Saraswati Puja falls on February 14.

1. Vasant Panchami Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2024
2. Shubh Muhurat: 07:01 AM to 12:35 PM
3. Duration: 5 Hours 35 Mins
4. Vasant Panchami Madhyahna Moment: 12:35 PM
5. Panchami Tithi Begins: 02:41 PM on Feb 13, 2024
6. Panchami Tithi Ends: 12:09 PM on Feb 14, 2024

Ingredients Needed To Perform Puja

An idol of Goddess Saraswati, a white cloth, flowers – lotus, lilies and jasmine, mango leaves and bel patra, turmeric, kumkum, rice, 5 types of fruits which must include coconut and bananas, a kalash, betel nut, betel leaves and durva grass, lamp and incense sticks, gulal or Holi colours, milk, dawaat and Kalam (wooden pen and ink pot), books and musical instruments.

Here’s How You Can Perform Puja At Home

1. Take a bath and wear new clothes, preferably of yellow colour, before you head to perform Saraswati Puja.
2. Clean the area where you want to perform the puja. Next, decorate the puja room or area with flowers.
3. Place the idol of Goddess Saraswati on a raised platform, put flowers, lamps and incense sticks around her.
4. Prepare the offering which must include Fruits, sweets and flowers. It can also have books and musical instruments.
5. Purify the place by lighting the lamp and incense sticks. Then, chant the mantra or prayer dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
6. Now, perform the puja by chanting the Saraswati Vandana mantra and offer the fruits and sweets to Maa Saraswati.
7. After the offering, perform the Aarti by circling the lamp around the idol and singing devotional songs.
8. Distribute the offering or prasad among family members after the Aarti is done.
9. Recite Saraswati mantras, slokas dedicating the goddess, and seek blessings.
10. Keep the books and musical instruments in front of the goddess till the idol’s immersion.

Original news source