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 the month of Maha in the Hindu calendar. Saraswati Puja is held on the occasion of Basant Panchami. Known as the goddess of knowledge, learning and wisdom, Maa Saraswati is worshiped by students, professionals, artists and musicians seeking academic advantage, artistic and technical skills, and good health. This year’s Saraswati Puja will be held on Wednesday, February 14.

Also read: Basant Panchami 2024: Saraswati Puja Wishes, Images, Quotes, February 14 Celebration Status

Interestingly, on the day of Basant Panchami, students have a ritual of placing books at the feet of the goddess and praying for blessings for success in exams. Saraswati Puja is popular in eastern India, and grand celebrations are held every year.

While you can always have a puja performed by a priest, if you would like to do it yourself, we can accommodate that as well. Below is a guide for performing Saraswati Puja at home.

Saraswati Puja 2024 Dates and Shubh Muhurat

This year’s Saraswati Puja will be held 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 minutes
4. Vasant Panchami Madhyahna Time: 12:35 Noon
5. Panchami Tithi Start Time: February 13, 2024 at 02:41 pm
6. Panchami Tithi Ends: February 14, 2024 at 12:09 pm

Materials required for conducting puja

Idol of Goddess Saraswati, a white cloth, flowers – lotus, lily and jasmine, mango leaves and belpatra, turmeric, kumkum, rice, 5 fruits (must include coconut and banana), kalash, betel nut , betel leaves and durva grass, lamps and incense, gulal or Holi colors, milk, dawaat and Kalam (wooden pen and inkpot), books and musical instruments.

Also read: Basant Panchami 2024: Rituals to follow according to your zodiac sign

Here’s how to conduct puja at home

1. Before attending Saraswati Puja, take a shower and put on new clothes, preferably yellow.
2. Clean the area where you are going to perform the puja. Next, decorate the puja room or area with flowers.
3. Place the idol of Goddess Saraswati on a high platform and place flowers, lamps and incense around her.
4. Prepare offerings, which must include fruits, sweets and flowers. It can also have books and musical instruments.
5. Light lamps and incense to purify the place. Then, recite mantras or prayers dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
6. Now, perform the puja by chanting the Saraswati Vandana mantra and offer fruits and sweets to Maa Saraswati.
7. After the puja, the aarti is performed by circling the lamp around the idol and singing devotional songs.
8. After the Aarti is completed, tributes or prasad are distributed among the family members.
9. Chant Saraswati mantras, worship the mantras of the goddess and seek blessings.
10. Books and musical instruments are placed in front of the goddess until the idol is immersed in it.