Rishi Panchami is observed on the fifth day of the Shukla paksha in the Bhadrapada month. In 2024, Rishi Panchami is on 8th September. This fast is observed by the devotees with devotion and faith and is believed to provide fruitful results to all. On this day, saints around the country are worshipped as per the rituals. Reciting the vrat katha on this day have special significance. Observing this fast gives relief from all kind of sins and bless the devotees with good results. This fast represents the respect, devotion, gratitude and dedication towards saints.
Rishi Panchami Puja Rituals
As per the rituals, this fast was only observed by men but with the change in time and modern outlook women also started observing it. Bathing in holy rivers has special significance on this day. The idols of saptarishi are established and worshipped with panchamrit, followed by applying sandalwood tilak and offering flowers, incense, diya etc. The devotees must wear white clothes and chant mantras.
Rishi Panchami Katha
As per the legends, a priest and his loyal wife use to live in Uttak village. They were blessed with a daughter and a son. The priest married her daughter in a brahmin family. But, due to unfavourable circumstances the his son-in law dies soon. The widow daughter comes back to his paternal home and starts living there. One night she suddenly finds huge number of insects crawling over her body.
The parents of the girl got very upset seeing her condition. They took her to a priest and told everything about their daughter’s life. The priest tells them about the past sins of the daughter, and how she despite of being a brahmin used to work in homes. He told them that rajaswala girls are not allowed to work and since she broke the tradition she is now being punished due to her sin.
The saints advises them to ask their daughter to observe Rishi panchami fast with devotion and faith to get rid of her past sins. The girl does as directed and eventually gets relief from the ill-effects of her past sins.
According to another legend that was told by Lord Krishna to Yudhisthir, when Indra did a sin of killing a brahmi named Brijasura he went to Lord Brahma to apologise for his mistake. Lord Brahma provided Indra relief from his sin and divided it into four parts. The first part went into the fire volcano, second into the rain water for rivers, third in the form of mountains and fourth one into the seminal fluid of women. Thus, for the purification of this sin women are suppose to observe fasts every year.