Vasant Panchami 2021: Subh muhurat, puja vidhi & mantra for Saraswati Puja 2021

Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami is a day celebrated to honour the goddess of wisdom, learning, music, art, and science, Goddess Sarawati.

Vasant Panchami is a prominent Hindu festival that is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Lunar Eclipse in the month of Magh (spring) as per the Hindu calendar. The day mostly falls in January or February.

Schools and educational institutes start the day with Saraswati Pujan on Vasant Panchmi.  'Anubujh' muhurta is a perfect time and considered auspicious to carry out the rituals followed during Saraswati Pujan.

Astrologers consider the best time to worship Goddess Saraswati in the morning hours and while the Panchami (fifth) Tithi (date) prevails. 

Date and Time of Puja Panchami Tithi: Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami will be observed on February 16, 2021. The Panchami Tithi shall start at 3.36 am on February 16 and will continue till 5.46 am on February 17. It is said that the best time to do the puja is in the afternoon but the entire day is considered as being auspicious.

Vasant Panchami Muhurat: February 16 at 06:59 am to 12:35 pm
Vasant Panchami Madhyahna: 12:35 pm
Start of Panchami Tithi: February 16 at 03:36 am
End of Panchami Tithi: February 17 at 05:46 am

Puja Samagri or the key elements used in Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja are: 

-Purified Mango wood
-Kesar
-Haldi
-Kumkum
-Akshat
-Naivedya
-Gangajal
-Kalash
-Shripal
-Havan Samidha
-Shodash Matrika
-Yellow clothes
-Saffron sweets
-Chandan
-Durva dal
-Saraswati yantra 

How to perform Saraswati Puja
Place a photo or an idol of Goddess Saraswati on a wooden platform with a red/yellow cloth spread on it.
Keep the books of your children, a pen/pencil/slate at the Goddess’s feet.
Light a brass or an earthen lamp. (Use ghee/mustard oil or sesame oil).
Light a few incense sticks.
Invite Maa Saraswati with utmost devotion to accept your prayers and offerings.
Put a tika with Chandan and kumkum on the Goddess’s forehead.
 
The mantra recited on this day is:
 या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना। या ब्रह्माच्युत शंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा॥  शुक्लां ब्रह्मविचार सार परमामाद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं वीणा-पुस्तक-धारिणीमभयदां जाड्यान्धकारापहाम्‌। हस्ते स्फटिकमालिकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थिताम्‌ वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धिप्रदां शारदाम्‌॥२॥