Saraswati Puja Vidhi (Vasant Panchami and Vidyarambham)

In brief

Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, speech, music and the arts. She is shown seated on a white lotus, holding a veena (a stringed instrument), a book and a mala (prayer beads). Students, teachers, musicians and writers pray to her. The home puja below is done mainly on Vasant Panchami, and it suits any day when someone begins a new course or instrument.

Vidyarambham (also called Aksharabhyasam or Akshar Abhyas) is the small ceremony in which a young child writes the first letters. It is closely linked to Saraswati and is explained at the end of the steps.

When to do it

Vasant Panchami falls on Magha Shukla Panchami, the fifth day of the bright half of Magha, in late winter. The puja is done in the morning, in the part of the day called purvahna (sunrise to midday), when Panchami is present. The festival page shows the times for your city.

Vidyarambham is kept on different days in different regions. In Kerala it is held on Vijayadashami, the last day of Navratri. Many Telugu, Kannada and North Indian families do it on Vasant Panchami, and some families choose any day that a priest or elder finds suitable.

Fasting is not required. Many people simply eat after the puja. If you do fast, people with health conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and the elderly should follow their doctor's advice and may keep a lighter fast.

What you need

• A picture or idol of Saraswati on a stool covered with a yellow or white cloth
• Your books, notebooks, pens and musical instruments
• Sandal paste, turmeric, akshata (whole, unbroken rice) and yellow or white flowers
• A lamp, incense, and camphor if you use it
• Yellow sweets such as kesari (sweet saffron semolina), sweet yellow rice or besan laddu, plus some fruit
• For Vidyarambham: a plate or tray of uncooked rice, a notebook or slate, and a lamp

Puja vidhi (steps)

1. Bathe and wear yellow, white or other clean clothes. Clean the puja space.
2. Place the image of Saraswati on the cloth. Set the books, pens and instruments in front of her. Many families leave them untouched until the puja ends.
3. Light the lamp and incense. Hold a little water, rice and a flower, and say in your own words that you are doing the puja for knowledge and good judgment. This is the sankalpa (spoken intention).
4. Bow to Ganesha first: "ॐ गणेशाय नमः" (Om Ganeshaya Namah).
5. Invite Saraswati with a flower. Picture her on a white lotus, with her veena and book.
6. Offer a few drops of water, then sandal paste, turmeric, rice and flowers at her feet.
7. Offer incense and the lamp.
8. Place the sweets and fruit before her as naivedya (the food offering).
9. Chant "ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः" (Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah), many families 11 or 108 times on a mala. Ask a priest or elder to guide pronunciation.
10. Recite or listen to the Saraswati Vandana or another Saraswati prayer.
11. Sing the aarti, moving the lamp slowly in a clockwise circle.
12. For Vidyarambham: seat the child on the lap of a parent, grandparent or teacher. Spread rice on the tray. The guide holds the child's index finger and writes "Om" or "Hari Sri Ganapataye Namah" in the rice, then a few first letters of your language. Praise the child warmly.
13. Share the prasad. Then take up the books and spend some time in quiet study or practice.

Mantras and aarti

• Aarti: "Om Jai Saraswati Mata" is the aarti most families sing.
• Namavali: the 108 names of Saraswati.
• Mantras: "Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah" (aim is her seed sound) and the Saraswati Vandana, the verse that begins "Ya Kundendu".
• Vidyarambham: "Hari Sri Ganapataye Namah" is written first in Kerala. Some families write "Om" instead.

The full texts are on their own pages.

Doing it in the USA

Vasant Panchami may fall on a school day. A short puja before school or in the evening is fine. Marigolds and yellow flowers are available at Indian stores and florists, and kesari is sold at Indian sweet shops.

Family customs differ. In Kerala, books and instruments are placed before the goddess in the last days of Navratri and taken back on Vijayadashami morning. Many temples offer a Vidyarambham ceremony led by a priest or teacher, so you may like to ask a temple near you. For a home ceremony, a parent or grandparent can act as the guide. Some Kerala families also write on the tongue with a gold ring, though many omit this, and it is not needed.

Check your lease and smoke alarm before lighting a lamp, incense or camphor. A small lamp on a steel plate is safest, and an electric lamp is a fine substitute where open flames are not allowed.