Tithi 5bhadra
Shukla Panchami
शुक्ल पञ्चमी
Presiding deity: Saraswati / Nag Devta
Tithi Mantra
ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः
Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah
Shukla Paksha (waxing)
Vasant Panchami (Magha Shukla Panchami) — Saraswati worship, first day of spring, students invoke goddess of knowledge. Nag Panchami (Shravan Shukla Panchami) — snake worship. Skanda Shashthi preparation.
Krishna Paksha (waning)
N/A
Best for
- + Saraswati puja
- + Akshara abhyasam (child's first letter)
- + Music/dance/learning initiations
- + Nag puja
- + Wearing yellow
Avoid for
- - Killing snakes
- - Tilling earth on Nag Panchami
- - Speaking harshly to gurus
Fasting tradition
Vasant Panchami — wear yellow, offer yellow sweets to Saraswati, place pens/books at altar. Nag Panchami — fast, offer milk to snake idol/anthill.
Major festivals on this tithi
Vasant Panchami, Nag Panchami, Bhishma Panchami, Lalita Panchami, Rishi Panchami