Basant Panchami 2017: Saraswati Puja Date and Time (Muhrat)

Happy Basant Panchami 2017! This is the day which marks the end of winters and the slow beginning of spring. The word 'basant' means spring and 'panchami' refers to the fifth day of Magh month, on which day this festival falls every year. This festival also celebrates the birth of Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, education, art, culture and music. Saraswati Puja is an important festival in India, particularly across the Eastern states. You will find almost every family getting together to clean their house and perform the auspicious puja for the Goddess to bless the children with good knowledge. It is believed that with the Goddess's blessings, the children will be able to excel at their studies and extra-curricular activities like art and music. Saraswati Puja Alpana refers to the sacred offering made to the Goddess a day before Basant Panchami, with the belief that she would join in the celebrations by attending the traditional feast the following morning.What is the Saraswati Puja (Muhrat)time? Saraswati Puja time and date (more commonly known as Muhrat) are supposed to coincide with Panchami Tithi. The puja is usually performed in the morning, between sunrise and midday. The most auspicious time is from 7:12 am to 12:34 pm. And this year, it falls on 1st February.The puja is performed not only in the households but also in schools, colleges and other educational Institutions. Of course no Indian festival is complete without delicious traditional sweets to ring in the celebrations. Fresh fruits like bananas and apples are also included in the prasad along with other regional treats.