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Basant Panchami is a festival of joy for students. Basant Panchami(Vasant Panchami), also known as Saraswati Puja, is celebrated to worship Goddess Saraswati. Mother Saraswati is said to be the mother of Sur and Vidya; therefore, on this day, musical instruments and books are also worshipped.
About Basant Panchami
Basant Panchami is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated in different ways depending on the region. Basant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which occur forty days later. The Basant Utsav (festival) on Panchami is celebrated forty days before spring, as any season's transition period is 40 days, and after that, the season comes into full bloom.
For many, Basant Panchami is the festival dedicated to the goddess Saraswati, their goddess of knowledge, language, music, and all arts. She symbolizes creative energy and power, including longing and love. The season and festival also celebrate the agricultural fields ripening with yellow flowers of mustard crop, which Hindus associate with Saraswati's favorite color.
People dress in yellow sarees or shirts or accessories and share yellow-colored snacks and sweets. Some add saffron to their rice and then eat yellow-cooked rice as a part of an elaborate feast. Basant Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Magha, which typically falls in late January or February. Spring is known as the "King of all Seasons," so the festival commences forty days in advance. Hindus observe the festival in the Indian subcontinent, notably India and Nepal. It has been a historical tradition of Sikhs as well. In southern states, the same day is called Sri Panchami.
History Of Basant Panchami
While starting the work of the universe's structure, Brahma Ji created man, but he had a dilemma in his mind. He felt the silence around him, then he sprinkled water from his kamandal and gave birth to a goddess, his psyche daughter. We know it as Saraswati Devi; when she was born, she had a Veena in her hand, a garland in the book, and others. After her birth, she was asked to play the veena, then as soon as Goddess Saraswati spread the voice, it vibrated in the earth, and the man got a view, and the silence of the land was over. A voice started in every living animal, plant, and water stream to flourish on the earth, and consciousness began to be communicated to all. Therefore, this day is celebrated as Saraswati Jayanti or Basant Panchami.
Celebration Of Basant Panchami
This festival is celebrated as a seasonal as per a range of provincial beliefs. On this day, many from near and far worship the idol of Saraswati Maa by offering lotus flowers to her. On Basant Panchami, musical instruments and books are also worshipped. Yellow clothes are worn on this day. During Basant Panchami, food donation and clothing donation is essential. Nowadays, considering Saraswati Jayanti, contributions are made to the education of poor children.
One crucial necessity of the legend of Kama Dev and Goddess Rati is also associated with Basant Panchami, so many Ras Leela festivals are also performed on this day. A fair is organized in many places during the festivities of Basant on the holy riverbank, pilgrimage places, and sacred places where people from the entire country come in one place. Surya is also honored on this day as A symbol of wisdom and spiritual light; Surya brings an end to winter, providing the sunlight needed for trees to grow new leaves and flowers to blossom. After months of cold and short days, Surya's warmth invigorates and energizes people out of reclusion, inspiring them to make fruitful plans and take on new challenges.
Rituals Of Basant Panchami
Vasant Panchami is celebrated in various ways depending on the devotee's focus on worship. Many honor the Goddess Saraswati by waking up early and dressing in yellow (believed to be her favorite color), eating and sharing yellow sweets and snacks, and performing puja to her deity. Because Saraswati is the goddess of learning and wisdom, she is also prayed to by students who want to be successful in their studies. Others honor Shiva and Parvati by offering the couple mango flowers and ears of wheat, while others, as said earlier, commemorate Surya.
In Odisha, the festival is celebrated as Basanta Panchami/Sri Panchami /Saraswati Puja. Yagyans are done in schools and colleges across the state. Students celebrate Saraswati puja with great sincerity and enthusiasm. Usually, children four and five starts learning on this day in a unique ceremony named ''Khadi-Chuan'' or ''Vidya-Arambha''.
