Rishi Panchami 2026: Date, Muhurat, Significance And Story

This usually falls in August or September. In 2026, Rishi Panchami falls on Tuesday, September 15, one day after Ganesh Chaturthi.

Rishi Panchami 2026: Date and Muhurat

📌 Rishi Panchami Details	🕐 Date & Timing
📅 Rishi Panchami Date	Tuesday, September 15, 2026
🌙 Panchami Tithi Begins	07:44 AM, September 15, 2026
🌙 Panchami Tithi Ends	08:59 AM, September 16, 2026
✨ Saptarishi Puja Muhurat	11:07 AM to 01:33 PM
⏳ Total Muhurat Duration	2 Hours 26 Minutes

The puja for Rishi Panchami is usually done around midday, not at sunrise. This is why the best time falls in the late morning and early afternoon.

Note: Timings can change slightly by city, so it helps to check a local panchang before starting the puja.

What is Rishi Panchami?

Rishi Panchami is a vrat, or fast, kept for prayashchitta, which means asking for forgiveness and becoming pure again. Old texts say this day helps clear away small mistakes made without meaning to, especially mistakes linked to a woman's monthly cycle. Women observe this vrat the most, but anyone can keep it to feel pure and to receive the blessings of the sages.

Why is it called Rishi Panchami?

The name itself is simple to understand. "Rishi" means sage, and points to the seven great sages:

1. Atri

2. Bharadvaja

3. Gautama

4. Jamadagni

5. Kashyapa

6. Vashishtha

7. Vishvamitra

"Panchami" means the fifth day of the lunar fortnight. So Rishi Panchami is a day set aside to honor these sages and their wisdom, along with Arundhati, who is seen as an example of a devoted and pure wife.

Rishi Panchami: Significance and Importance

Ancient scriptures such as the Dharmasindhu refer to Rishi Panchami as the day when daily sins, or sins related to a woman's monthly cycle, are washed away. Many other aspects make the day important for the people:

• It is said to cleanse people of sins, whether knowingly or unknowingly, that they have committed in their lives.

• It brings the blessings of the Sapta Rishis to daily life.

• For women, it symbolizes a blissful married life, good health, and harmony at home.

• It helps people live modestly and cleanly and be at peace mentally for the day.

Rishi Panchami Puja Vidhi

The Rishi Panchami puja involves essential purification rituals, including taking a sacred bath, taking a sankalpa, performing achamana, and setting up an altar to honor the Sapta Rishis and Goddess Arundhati.

Read the whole puja vidhi here.

Rishi Panchami Story

The Rishi Panchami vrat katha, found in the Brahmanda Purana, tells the story of a Brahmin named Uttanga, his wife Sushila, and their widowed daughter. The family lived by the banks of the Ganga, and the daughter served her father with great care. One night, her body was suddenly covered in worms while she slept. Sushila was shocked and brought her to Uttanga for help.

Through meditation, Uttanga saw that this had happened because of something from his daughter's past life. In that earlier life, she had not been careful about purity during her monthly cycle, and she had also made fun of the Rishi Panchami vrat after seeing others observe it. These actions followed her into her new life as this problem.

To help her, Uttanga explained the full Rishi Panchami vrat. He described how to set up a small space for the Sapta Rishis, bathe their symbols with Panchamrit, offer flowers and fragrance, and say their names with respect.

The story ends by saying that anyone who keeps this fast with true faith, eating simple leafy food and staying disciplined, gains great peace and good fortune for their family.

Rishi Panchami Mantras

A few simple mantras are said during the puja:

Arghya Mantra

कश्यपोऽत्रिर्भरद्वाजो विश्वामित्रोऽथ गौतमः। जमदग्निर्वसिष्ठश्च सप्तैते ऋषयः स्मृताः॥
दहन्तु पापं मे सर्वं गृह्णन्त्वर्घ्यं नमो नमः॥

Kashyapo'trir Bharadvajo Vishvamitrō'tha Gautamah। Jamadagnir Vashishthashcha Saptaite Rishayah Smritah॥
Dahantu Papam Me Sarvam Grihṇantvarghyam Namo Namah॥

Meaning: Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadvaja, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, and Vasishtha are remembered as the seven great Rishis. May they remove all my faults and accept this Arghya. I offer my salutations to them again and again.

Lord Ganesha Mantra

• ॐ गं गणपतये नमः। (Oṁ Gaṁ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ)

Sapta Rishi Mantras

• ॐ अत्रये नमः। (Oṁ Atriye Namaḥ)

• ॐ भरद्वाजाय नमः। (Oṁ Bharadvājāya Namaḥ)

• ॐ गौतमाय नमः। (Oṁ Gautamāya Namaḥ)

• ॐ जमदग्नये नमः। (Oṁ Jamadagnaye Namaḥ)

• ॐ कश्यपाय नमः। (Oṁ Kaśyapāya Namaḥ)

• ॐ वसिष्ठाय नमः। (Oṁ Vasiṣṭhāya Namaḥ)

• ॐ विश्वामित्राय नमः। (Oṁ Viśvāmitrāya Namaḥ)

Devi Arundhati Mantra

• ॐ अरुन्धत्यै नमः। (Oṁ Arundhatyai Namaḥ)

A family priest may add other mantras based on local custom.

Final Thoughts

Rishi Panchami is a quiet, meaningful day built around forgiveness and starting fresh. It brings together respect for the Sapta Rishis, a day of fasting, and a story that reminds people how small habits can carry weight over time. Coming so soon after Ganesh Chaturthi, Rishi Panchami adds a moment of reflection and simplicity to a season otherwise full of celebration.

To know more about this observance, get connected with Astroyogi astrologers right away!