Rishi Panchami 2027

Puja Vidhi

Who Should Do This Vrat?

• Women: Primarily, women observe this vrat to seek forgiveness for any unknowing lapses in purity and to receive the blessings of the Saptarishis (the seven great sages).
• Families Seeking Wellbeing: Many households keep it for the peace, health, and prosperity of the whole family, with the elders guiding the younger members.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Morning Bath: Early in the morning, a ritual bath is taken, traditionally with the sacred Apamarga twigs.
• Puja Muhurat: The Rishi Panchami puja is done during Madhyahna (midday). Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Breaking the Fast: After the puja and katha, with a simple meal of foods grown without the plough.

About the Festival

Rishi Panchami is a deeply revered observance across India, in which devotees honour the Saptarishis and observe a vrat of purification. It takes place on the Panchami (fifth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada.

The Vrat Katha (Story of Rishi Panchami)

Once upon a time, there lived a learned Brahmin named Uttanka and his devoted wife Sushila, along with their son Suchitra. The family lived a righteous life, yet after their passing, the Brahmin was reborn as a bull and his wife as a dog, and both came to live in their own son's household.

Suchitra, who performed all his duties faithfully, did not know them. One day, during a shraddha, the dog and the bull saw their own son feeding guests, and understood that they were suffering the result of a lapse that had been committed unknowingly in their past life. Suchitra, troubled to see them in distress, went to a wise sage and asked the reason for his parents' condition.

The sage replied: "Your mother, in her past life, failed to follow the rules of purity during her monthly period. This unknowing mistake has brought this result. Observe the Rishi Panchami vrat on Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami with full devotion, worship the Saptarishis, and your parents will be freed."

Suchitra followed the sage's advice wholeheartedly. He observed the vrat with sincere faith and worshipped the seven sages, and by their grace his parents were released from their births as animals and attained peace. Since that day, devotees have observed the Rishi Panchami vrat to seek the blessings of the Saptarishis and to be freed from unknowing lapses.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the midday puja:

• Image / Sacred Seat: Picture of the Saptarishis, or seven betel nuts (supari) placed on a clean cloth to represent them
• Tilak & Sacred Powder: Roli, Kumkum, Chandan, and Akshat (unbroken rice grains)
• Lamps & Lights: A brass or clay Diya with Ghee and cotton wick, and incense (Dhoop)
• Sacred Water Container: A Kalash filled with fresh water, with mango leaves and a coconut
• Food Offerings (Naivedya): Fruits, Bhagar (barnyard millet) or other foods grown without ploughing, and curd
• Devotional Accessories: Flowers, sacred thread (Kalava), Apamarga twigs (Aghada), and Durva grass

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Morning Preparation and Sankalp

1. Wake up early during Brahma Muhurta, bathe, and wear clean, fresh clothes. Many families bathe using Apamarga twigs as a symbol of purification.
2. Take a small amount of water in your right palm and take a Sankalp (solemn vow): "O Saptarishis, today I observe the Rishi Panchami vrat to seek forgiveness for my unknowing lapses. Grant me the strength to fulfill this vow with pure devotion."
3. Keep the fast through the morning, and avoid eating grains that are grown by ploughing the field.

Step 2: Preparing the Puja Altar (Before Midday)

1. Clean the puja space and sprinkle it with Gangajal or fresh water.
2. Place a wooden stool (Chowki) covered with a clean cloth, and draw or place the images of the Saptarishis, or seven betel nuts, on it.
3. Place the Kalash filled with water near the Chowki, with mango leaves and a coconut on top.

Step 3: Performing the Midday Rituals

1. Lighting the Lamp: Light a Ghee Diya and incense in front of the Saptarishis.
2. Applying Tilak: Apply Roli, Chandan, Kumkum, and Akshat to each sage and to the Kalash.
3. Offering Flowers & Threads: Offer fresh flowers, Durva grass, and Apamarga twigs, and tie Kalava around the Kalash.
4. Offering Naivedya: Offer fruits, curd, and the simple food prepared without ploughed grain.

Step 4: Reciting the Vrat Katha

1. Hold a few grains of rice and a few flower petals in your right hand.
2. Sit respectfully in front of the altar and recite or listen to the Rishi Panchami Vrat Katha with deep focus and devotion.
3. After completing the story, offer the grains and petals at the feet of the Saptarishis.

Step 5: Aarti and Prayers to the Saptarishis

1. Perform the Aarti using the lit Ghee lamp while singing devotional hymns.
2. Bow before each of the seven sages and pray for their blessings on you and your family.
3. Offer a final prayer for forgiveness of any unknowing lapses, and for purity of mind, body, and home.

Step 6: Seeking Blessings and Breaking the Fast

1. Touch the feet of the elders in your family to seek their blessings (Charan Sparsh).
2. Distribute the prasad among your family members.
3. Break your fast by partaking in the prasad and a simple sattvic meal made from foods grown without the plough.