ऋषि पञ्चमि Rishi Panchami: Fifth Day Of Rishis (holy men)

On the fifth day of the lunar bright fortnight (Bhadra sukla panchami) in Bhadra (August/Sept), Nepalese Hindu women celebrate the final day of ‘teej’ festival by taking a holy bath and then making offerings to Lord Shiva, and then seven Rishis.

In the early morning, women go to the nearest water sources, and brush their teeth 365 times using the stalks of a special plant called a ’dativan’, and then cleanse their bodies by washing 365 times as well. Some of them use sieve for washing their bodies to make it 365 times.

In Kathmandu, women go to Bagmati and Bhishnumati river in Teku to take a holy dip. Then, they make offerings to Lord Shiva, Rikheyaswore there; thereafter, they make offerings to seven ‘Rishis”. So, this day also is called Rishi Panchami meaning fifth day of ‘Rishis’.

Seven Rishis are 1. Kasyapa, 2. Aatri, 3. Bhardvaja, 4. Visvamitra, 5. Gotama, 6. Jandagani, and 7. Vasistha. All Hindus are originated from them. So, every Hindu bears the name (‘gotra’) of one these seven Rishis.