Basant Panchami 2026: 10 traditional bhog offered to Maa Saraswati on this festival

India, as a land of festivals, celebrates every season, and the festival of Saraswati Puja, also known as Basant Panchami, not only celebrates the goddess of knowledge, Maa Saraswati, but also marks the beginning of the spring season. Every year, Basant Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the Magh month, which falls in January or February. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, and on this day people worship the goddess, who is a symbol of knowledge, education, creativity, and music. This year, Basant Panchami will be celebrated on Friday, January 23. According to Drig Panchang, the festival of Basant Panchami madhyanha moment will be at 12:33 PM. The panchami tithi begins at 02:28 AM on Jan 23, 2026, and ends at 01:46 AM on Jan 24, 2026.

This festival marks the onset of the spring season; hence, the color yellow plays an important role on this day. People often wear yellow clothes and offer yellow food to the deity. The color also symbolizes prosperity, optimism, energy, and positivity. On this day, while worshipping the goddess, people offer pens, pencils, and books along with flowers, fruits, and sweets. Flowers such as marigolds, jasmine, and roses are offered to the goddess as they are considered to be pure and auspicious.

On this day, it is suggested to deck up the deity in a yellow outfit. And then, offer flowers, fruits, and sweets. Mostly yellow flowers are offered to the goddess. Next, devotees light camphor and agarbatti and pray to the goddess for prosperity. Also, people offer new stationaries, tilak them, and pray to the Goddess for prosperity and knowledge.

It is a seasonal fruit and is offered to Goddess Saraswati. It helps rejuvenate the skin, heal wounds, and promote digestion.

Carrot is also offered to the goddess. It is rich in beta-carotene, which helps lower cholesterol and improve eyesight.

Made with gram flour, edible colour, and sugar syrup, these small sweet balls are offered as bhog to the goddess.

It is a rice preparation, where saffron-infused rice is cooked with sugar, ghee, cardamom and dry fruits. It is a traditional dish of Punjab and Haryana.

In some parts of India, Khichdi is also served as bhog to the goddess. It is made with rice, dal, tomatoes, spices, and salt.

In Uttar Pradesh, Tehri is made where, basmati rice is coooked in pressure cooker with peas, gobi, carrot, along with spices.

Made with curd, milk, ghee, honey, and tulsi leaves, it is a healthy concoction offered to the devi on this auspicious day.

In Bihar, these soft pancakes are made, which are prepared with maida, milk, sugar, chironji, and cardamom. It is a deep-fried dish that is also soaked in sugar syrup in some places.

This deep-fried poori is made with spiced cooked chana dal and is stuffed in dough. It is paired with chutney and curry.

It is a rich halwa made with semolina or wheat flour, ghee and saffron, and sugar syrup and is prepared as part of Saraswati Puja offerings.

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