Vasant Panchami 2026 in UK: Fri, Jan 23 — Puja Time by City

How the Vasant Panchami date is decided

Magha Shukla Panchami prevailing at local midday (Madhyahna); Saraswati puja in the forenoon, from sunrise (or from the start of Panchami) till midday.

Significance

Saraswati puja: the goddess of learning, music and art — students, artists and teachers worship books, pens and instruments on this day; in eastern India this is the main day of 'Saraswati Puja' (Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam).

Yellow symbolises the mustard flower, the Sun's radiance and intellect — hence yellow clothes, yellow flowers (marigold, mustard), yellow food (saffron rice, besan laddoo, boondi).

Abujh muhurat: Vasant Panchami is counted among the three-and-a-half abujh muhurats (in some traditions) — weddings, mundan and griha pravesh without a muhurat check; this is why the most weddings in the country happen on this day. Worship of Kamadeva and Rati, and the preparations for Holi (planting the Holika pole) also begin on this day.

Puja vidhi (brief)

1. Bathe in the morning, wear yellow/basanti clothes; a yellow cloth on a wooden seat at the puja place, the idol/picture of Maa Saraswati (white robes, veena, swan); Ganesha alongside.
2. Kalash sthapana; for Saraswati yellow and white flowers, marigold and mustard blossoms, yellow sandalwood/turmeric, akshat, white/yellow sweets; 108 chants of 'Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah' or the Saraswati Vandana 'Ya Kundendu Tushara Hara Dhavala'.
3. Place books, pens, notebooks, the children's school bags, musical instruments (harmonium/tabla), the laptop — before the Mother and offer roli, akshat and flowers; on this day they are not touched or read (Bengal custom) or are auspiciously begun (northern custom).
4. Vidyarambh/first letters: seat a child of 2-5 on your lap, spread rice/turmeric on a thali and guide the child's finger to write 'Om' or 'A', then on a slate with chalk; the guru/elders bless; yellow sweets for the child.
5. Bhog — saffron rice/sweet yellow rice, besan laddoo, boondi, yellow fruit (banana); Saraswati aarti; prasad to children and neighbours.
6. Women: yellow flowers/a yellow chunari in the hair, water to the mustard field/plants; new beginnings at home — a vow for the children's studies, a new instrument or book.
7. It is an abujh muhurat — wedding/griha pravesh/shop opening on this day without a separate muhurat; Kamadeva and Rati are also worshipped (marital love).
8. The next day (Shashthi) Saraswati visarjan (Bengal-Bihar: immersion of the idol, 'dadhikarma'); in North India the preparations for planting the Holi pole (Holika) begin from this day.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vasant Panchami 2026 on the same day in UK and India?

Yes — Friday, January 23, 2026.

What is the puja time for Vasant Panchami 2026 in London?

Puja Muhurat (Purvahna, till midday): 7:51 AM to 12:13 PM (GMT). Other cities are in the table above.

Which time zone are these timings in?

Each row is in that city's own local time with daylight saving applied (UK time (GMT/BST) for London).

How to do the Vidyarambh?

Dress the child (2-5 years) in yellow and seat them before Saraswati; spread rice/turmeric on a thali, hold their finger and write 'Om' or 'A'; then slate and chalk; blessings from the guru/elders, sweets. It can also be done at school or by a priest.

Why the colour yellow?

Mustard turns yellow in spring, the Sun is radiant; yellow symbolises intellect, energy and auspiciousness and is dear to Saraswati (and Vishnu) — hence clothes, flowers and food all yellow.

What is the link between Vasant Panchami and Holi?

The 40-day Phaag/Vasantotsav begins on this day — gulal in Braj, planting the Holika pole in villages; the story of Kamadeva and Vasant connects to Shiva and Holi. Holi is on Phalguna Purnima.

Daily panchang in UK

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