Rishi Panchami is observed to honor the seven great sages (Sapta Rishis).
It is mainly a women’s fasting day to atone for Rajaswala Dosha.
The vrat falls one day after Ganesh Chaturthi and ends the Teej fast in Nepal.
Women perform purifying rituals including a special bath and puja.
It emphasizes purity, repentance, and respect for ancient Vedic traditions.
Details
Rishi Panchami is a significant observance in the Hindu calendar, celebrated on the fifth day (Panchami) of the Shukla Paksha in the Bhadrapada month. This day is not considered a festival but is an important vrat (fasting day) dedicated to the Sapta Rishis — the seven revered sages of Hindu tradition. Rishi Panchami usually falls in August or September, one day after Ganesh Chaturthi and two days after Hartalika Teej. The day is especially observed by women to seek forgiveness and purification from Rajaswala Dosha, a karmic impurity associated with menstruation in Hindu belief.
According to Hindu scriptures, during their menstrual cycle, women are considered ritually impure and are traditionally advised to avoid cooking, entering temples, or engaging in religious rituals. Violation of these practices was believed to cause Rajaswala Dosha, leading to spiritual imbalance. To nullify this dosha, Rishi Panchami vrat is observed with devotion and fasting, along with prayers offered to the Sapta Rishis — Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadwaja, Vishwamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, and Vashistha. Women take a purifying bath with sacred herbs, perform rituals, and recite hymns dedicated to these sages.
Rishi Panchami holds special significance in Nepal and among Nepali Hindus, where it marks the conclusion of the three-day Teej festival. The observance is not only a form of penitence but also a reminder of the cultural importance placed on bodily and spiritual purity in Hindu philosophy. The rituals emphasize respect for ancient sages and the maintenance of dharma through repentance, cleansing, and reverence for timeless traditions. The day is also known as Rushi Panchami in some regions.
