Vivah Panchami is the sacred wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. In the Treta Yuga, on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, Rama and Janaki were married in Janakpur after the bow ceremony. In 2026 Vivah Panchami is on Monday, 14 December. Worshipping Rama and Sita on this day is believed to bring love and happiness to married life and remove obstacles to marriage. Below are the muhurat, samagri, puja vidhi, mantras and katha.
Vivah Panchami 2026: date and muhurat
| Detail | Time (2026) |
|---|---|
| Vivah Panchami | Monday, 14 December 2026 |
| Panchami tithi begins | 13 December, about 4:48 PM |
| Panchami tithi ends | 14 December, about 7:16 PM |
| Abhijit Muhurat – Delhi | 11:51 AM to 12:39 PM |
| Sunrise / sunset – Delhi | 7:05 AM / 5:25 PM |
| Nakshatra | Shravana (until about 9:12 AM), then Dhanishta |
Panchami tithi begins on the evening of 13 December, but by the udaya tithi rule the festival is celebrated on 14 December. These times come from our Panchang engine; check your city on Today’s Panchang.
Significance of Vivah Panchami
Vivah Panchami is the festival of the ideal marriage. Shri Ram is Maryada Purushottam and Mother Sita the symbol of sacrifice and purity — their wedding is the ideal of dharma, love and devotion. It is also believed that Goswami Tulsidas completed the Ramcharitmanas on this day, so many places hold special Manas recitals and Ram Katha.
The Janaki temple in Janakpur, Nepal (Sita’s maternal home), and the temples of Ayodhya hold grand wedding festivals on this day. A baraat sets out from Ayodhya, wedding songs are sung and Rama and Sita are married with full rites. Unmarried young people worship for a good life partner, and couples for a happy married life.
Vivah Panchami puja samagri
- A picture or idol of Shri Ram and Mother Sita
- A chowki, red and yellow cloth, kalash, mango leaves, coconut
- A red chunari and suhag items for Mother Sita
- A yellow cloth for Shri Ram
- Two flower garlands (for the jaimala), flowers, tulsi leaves, roli, sandalwood, akshat, turmeric
- A ghee lamp, incense, camphor
- Fruit, sweets, panchamrit, kheer or saffron rice for bhog
- A copy of the Ramcharitmanas or Sunderkand
Vivah Panchami puja vidhi — step by step
- Bathe in the morning, wear yellow or red, and take the sankalp of the puja before Rama and Sita.
- Place a chowki at the puja place, spread red and yellow cloth, and seat Shri Ram on the right and Mother Sita on the left. Remember Lord Ganesha and set up the kalash.
- Offer a yellow cloth to Shri Ram and a red chunari and suhag items to Mother Sita. Offer roli, sandalwood, akshat and flowers to both.
- Offer the garlands as if they are exchanging the jaimala. In many homes a gathbandhan with mauli is also tied between them.
- Read or listen to the Sita-Ram wedding episode from the Balkand of the Ramcharitmanas, and recite the Shri Ram Stuti and Shri Ram Chalisa.
- Chant “Om Janakivallabhaya Namah” 108 times.
- Offer kheer, fruit and sweets, then do the aarti and sing wedding songs. Share the prasad and give the suhag items to a married woman.
Vivah Panchami mantras and chaupai
- Om Janakivallabhaya Namah — for a happy married life.
- Om Shri Sitaramabhyam Namah — for worshipping Rama and Sita together.
- Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram — the Taraka mantra; chant as much as you can.
A famous chaupai of the Ramcharitmanas:
सीय राममय सब जग जानी। करउँ प्रनाम जोरि जुग पानी॥
Siya Ram maya sab jag jani, karau pranam jori jug pani — knowing the whole world to be filled with Sita and Rama, I bow with folded hands.
The story of Vivah Panchami — Sita’s swayamvar
King Janak of Mithila found a baby girl in the earth while ploughing, and named her Sita. Once, as a child at play, Sita lifted Lord Shiva’s heavy bow, which great warriors could not even move. King Janak then vowed that whoever strung this bow of Shiva (Pinaka) would marry Sita.
Kings came from far and wide to the swayamvar, but none could even move the bow. At that time Shri Ram and Lakshman had come to Janakpur with Maharishi Vishwamitra. At his guru’s word Shri Ram lifted the bow with ease, and as he strung it the bow broke. Mother Sita placed the jaimala around his neck.
King Dasharatha then came from Ayodhya with the baraat, and on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami Rama and Sita were married with full Vedic rites. On the same day Lakshman married Urmila, Bharat married Mandavi and Shatrughna married Shrutakirti. That day is celebrated today as Vivah Panchami.
Rules of Vivah Panchami
- Cook sattvic food at home and avoid onion and garlic.
- Husband and wife should worship together — this is believed to deepen married love.
- Avoid quarrels and harsh words; keep the home auspicious.
- Before fixing a wedding date, follow your regional tradition and your pandit’s advice.
Read more on Wikipedia and see our Vrat Calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is Vivah Panchami 2026?
Vivah Panchami is on Monday, 14 December 2026, Margashirsha Shukla Panchami. Panchami tithi runs from about 4:48 PM on 13 December to about 7:16 PM on 14 December; by udaya tithi the festival is on 14 December.
What happens on Vivah Panchami?
The wedding anniversary of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita is celebrated. Temples hold the Ram-Sita wedding, a baraat is taken out and the wedding episode from the Balkand of the Ramcharitmanas is recited.
What is the auspicious time for Vivah Panchami puja?
On 14 December the puja can be done through the day after the morning bath. Abhijit Muhurat (about 11:51 AM to 12:39 PM in Delhi) is especially auspicious. Finish an evening puja before Panchami ends at about 7:16 PM.
Should one marry on Vivah Panchami?
Many in North India consider it very auspicious for weddings. But in parts of Mithila and Nepal daughters are not married on this day, because Goddess Sita’s married life was full of hardship. Follow your regional tradition and your pandit’s advice.
What should be recited on Vivah Panchami?
The bow-yajna and Sita-Ram wedding episode from the Balkand of the Ramcharitmanas, the Sunderkand, the Shri Ram Stuti and the Ram Chalisa are auspicious. Also chant “Om Janakivallabhaya Namah”.
