Rishi Panchami is the fifth day, the next day after Ganesh Chaturthi, in Bhadra month of the Lunar Calendar. It is a traditional worship of Sapta Rishi. It is a Vart (fast) observed by females. This is observed by married and unmarried women and girls who have reached their menstruation period.
The menstruation period is believed to be impure and women and girls are not allowed to cook, touch or participate in any religious practices or come in contact with any family members especially males during their periods. This fast is taken in order to seek forgiveness from the saints for any mistakes committed during the menstruation period. The main feature of the day is the ritual bath.
On this day, they wake up early before the sunrise and take ritual bath with particular type of mud, tulasi root and brush with Datiwan stem (herbal plant). They make the image of the seven saints i.e Sapta Rishi.
Many women these days do not take the menstruation ta-boo which is the reason for Rishi Panchami fast being unpopular these days. Whatever the case, the Rishi Panchami is still strictly followed in the rural and town areas of Nepal. This fast is observed by women to seek forgiveness for the mistakes committed during their menstruation period.
Samjhana Bashyal
Teacher