Basant Panchami, also celebrated as Saraswati Puja, is being observed with great fervour across India today, with massive celebrations, cultural events and religious prayers marking the arrival of spring and the worship of the goddess of knowledge and arts. The festival’s joyous atmosphere has transformed streets, temples and educational institutions into vibrant hubs of devotion and colour.
In several states, banks and financial institutions are closed in observance of the Basant Panchami holiday, affecting business operations and financial services for customers today. Meanwhile, in the historic town of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh, the **Supreme Court has permitted prayers at the controversial Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex, allowing devotees to offer Basant Panchami worship at the shared religious site.
What Is Basant Panchami — Meaning and Traditions
Basant Panchami, celebrated on the fifth day (Panchami) of the Hindu month of Magha, marks the onset of spring (Basant Ritu). The festival is particularly associated with:
- Goddess Saraswati, the deity of wisdom, learning, music and the arts
- Yellow colour, symbolising mustard blooms, prosperity and the vibrancy of spring
- Traditional Saraswati Puja rituals in homes, schools and colleges
- Wearing yellow attire and offering flowers, sweets and prayers
For students, artists and scholars, Basant Panchami is a joyful day to seek blessings for success, knowledge and creativity. Across India, educational institutions organise special pujas and cultural programmes to mark the occasion.
What Is Basant Panchami — Meaning and Traditions
Basant Panchami, celebrated on the fifth day (Panchami) of the Hindu month of Magha, marks the onset of spring (Basant Ritu). The festival is particularly associated with:
- Goddess Saraswati, the deity of wisdom, learning, music and the arts
- Yellow colour, symbolising mustard blooms, prosperity and the vibrancy of spring
- Traditional Saraswati Puja rituals in homes, schools and colleges
- Wearing yellow attire and offering flowers, sweets and prayers
For students, artists and scholars, Basant Panchami is a joyful day to seek blessings for success, knowledge and creativity. Across India, educational institutions organise special pujas and cultural programmes to mark the occasion.
Banks Closed Across Several States
To observe Basant Panchami as a public and cultural holiday, banks in multiple states—including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and parts of North India—have announced closures. The holiday affects:
- Regular banking services
- Cheque clearing and settlement cycles
- State government offices that follow local festival holiday lists
Customers are advised to plan financial transactions either before or after the holiday and use digital banking channels for urgent needs.
Banks Closed Across Several States
Banks in different states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, North India, etc., have declared a bank holiday to observe Basant Panchami as a public/cultural event.
The day of Basant Panchami affects:
Regular banking services
Cheque clearing and settlement cycles:
Government offices in the state that observe the list of Local Festival Holidays
Customers are advised to plan their financial transactions prior to or after the holiday; in the case of emergencies, e-banking can be undertaken.
SC okays prayers at Dhar’s Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex
It is one of the major developments that this Basant Panchami saw the Supreme Court permit the continuation of prayers at the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. The site — revered by both Hindus and Muslims — has historically been at the centre of religious and legal discussions over worship rights and shared heritage.
This order by the apex court now has given a green signal to the devotees for offering Basant Panchami prayers in the complex, which attracts pilgrims and visitors from all regions, therefore adding to the cultural importance of this festival.
The decision was welcomed by religious leaders and community representatives, who asserted that they would peacefully and respectfully mark their traditions at the joint site. In fact, the administrators have made arrangements for crowds, security, and ensuring uninterrupted performance of rituals.
Vibrant Celebrations Across India
Basant Panchami 2026 has been observed with enthusiasm throughout the nation in the following ways:
Cultural Events & Music
Cities and towns are organising folk performances and music concerts, as well as traditional dances honouring the themes of spring and renewal along with cultural traditions.
Saraswati Puja in Schools
Similarly, students of schools and colleges offered special puja ceremonies where books, musical instruments, and artistic tools were given to the adorned Saraswati deities.
Yellow Attire and Delicacies
The wearing of yellow clothes, reminiscent of the yellow color of the mustard fields and wealth, is one of the highlights of the day, with special kinds of sweet dishes and foods enjoyed on the occasion.
????️ A Message of Harmony and Renewal
‘Basant Panchami’ signifies the amalgamation of ‘religion’, ‘culture’, and ‘season’. Thus, as we or others around us celebrate the festivities with family or institutions like schools, the focus still remains on the following:
Blessings for Learning and Creativity
Renewed hopes and optimism – springtime has arrived
Peaceful coexistence and the recognition of diverse cultural traditions
The Supreme Court-authorized arrangements for prayer at the shared Dhar temple also have an added relevance this year, reinforcing how “these festivities have also become an opportunity for dialogue and respect between communities.”
Basant Panchami 2026 has passed off as a vibrant and meaningful festival in India as different rituals of Saraswati Puja have been observed in homes and educational institutions alike, while offers and prayers sanctioned by the apex court have been held at the Bhoj-shala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar, where bank holidays have been declared in various parts of the country and the festivities are a beacon of high values of culture in India.
As the devotees make their prayers and embrace the fresh season, Basant Panchami remains an event to cherish by its continued amalgamation of devotion, art, and optimism.
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