Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival that commemorates the birth of Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of education, music, arts, wisdom, and learning. It is also known as Shri Panchami and Saraswati Puja in West Bengal. Saraswati Puja is also performed during the Sharad Navratri festival, which is more prominent in South India.
The Importance of Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami is significant for worshipping Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, in the same way as Diwali is significant for worshipping Lakshmi, the goddess of money and prosperity, and Navratri is significant for worshipping Durga, the goddess of power and bravery; these celebrations each honour one aspect of Mother Divine.
Goddess Saraswati is celebrated on this day during Purvahna time, which is the time before midday according to Hindu calendar. Devotees dress the deity in white clothing and flowers, as white is thought to be Goddess Saraswati’s favorite hue. Traditionally, milk and white sesame sweets are offered to Goddess Saraswati and distributed as Prasad(holy offering) to friends and family.
Due to the profusion of blossoming mustard flowers and marigold (Genda Phool) at this time of year, yellow flowers are offered to Goddess Saraswati on the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami in north India.
What is Vidhya Arambha, and why is it held on Vasant Panchami?
Vidhya Arambha, the ritual of introducing young children to the world of school and formal learning, falls on Vasant Panchami. On the day of Vasant Panchami, most schools and universities hold a Saraswati Puja. Vasant is the Hindu calendar’s equivalent of spring, and one of the six Indian seasons. Vasant Panchami is a misnomer because the day has nothing to do with the Indian Vasant season. Vasant Panchami does not always occur during Vasant season.
However, in recent years, it did fall during Vasant. Because none of the Hindu festivals are tied to seasons, Shri Panchami and Saraswati Puja are more acceptable names for the day of Vasant Panchami.
Observance of Vasant Panchami
The following are the important ceremonies and activities that take place on Vasant Panchami:
Saraswati Puja for children involves flying kites while dressed in white and yellow and offering mustard and marigold flowers to Goddess Saraswati Vidhya Arambha.
Saraswati Puja is performed at schools and colleges that are starting new ventures, particularly educational institutes and colleges.
Pitri Tarpan (offering to ancestors) for family who have passed away
Regional Variance in Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami in Brij
Vasant Panchami ceremonies in Brij are similar to those in Mathura and Vrindavan temples. In Brij temples, the day of Vasant Panchami marks the start of Holi celebrations. Most temples are decked with yellow flowers on Vasant Panchami day. To celebrate the approach of spring, the idols are dressed in yellow costumes.
The famous Shah Bihari temple in Vrindavan opens the Vasanti chamber for worshipers on this day. Priests in Vrindavan’s Shri Banke Bihari temple begin Holi celebrations by tossing Abeer and Gulal on devotees. Holika Dahan Pandal is dug out and a Holi Danda (a wooden stick) is installed, which will be filled with scrap wood and dried cow dung over the next 41 days for Holika Dahan rites.
Vasant Panchami in West Bengal
In West Bengal, Vasant Panchami is known as Saraswati Puja. Saraswati Puja, like Durga Puja, is observed with great devotion and excitement. Saraswati Puja is very popular among students. The girls wear yellow Basanti Saris and the boys wear Dhoti and Kurta, as is customary. Students and artists worship Goddess Saraswati by placing educational books, musical instruments, paintbrushes, canvas, ink pots, and bamboo quills in front of the idol.
Anjali (offerings) is served to Goddess Saraswati in the morning in most homes. Bel leaves, marigold, Palash and Guldaudi flowers, and Sandal paste are used to worship the Goddess.
Saraswati Puja, like Durga Puja, is a communal celebration in which people get together to create Pandals in their neighbourhoods and place the idol of Goddess Saraswati. To please and obtain the graces of the Goddess of wisdom and knowledge, instrumental music is traditionally played.
Kul (jujube fruit, also known as Ber in North India), apples, dates, and bananas are offered to Goddess Saraswati as Naivedhya (offerings) and thereafter distributed to worshippers. Despite the fact that the Kul fruit is available in the market well before the festival, many people do not begin eating it until the day of Magha Panchami, when the fruit is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. On this day, most people look forward to eating the Kul fruit. Topa Kul Chutney, along with Khichuri and Lubra, is a special meal served on Saraswati Puja day.
On this day, in addition to Saraswati Puja, Hate Khori, or the ritual of learning Bengali alphabets, is held, which is called as Vidhya Arambha in other states.
The idol of Goddess Saraswati is transported out of homes or Pandals in the evening and immersed in a water body in a grand procession. The idol is usually submerged on the third day, but many people do it on the day of Saraswati Puja.
Vasant Panchami is pronounced Basant Panchami in Punjab and Haryana. The ceremonies of Basant Panchami have nothing to do with worship. However, this does not diminish the significance of the occasion, since the day is celebrated by a variety of fun and frolic activities to celebrate the entrance of Basant, the spring season.
Flying kites is quite popular on this day. The event is open to both men and women. The sport is so popular that demand for kites skyrockets right before Basant Panchami, and kite producers are extremely busy throughout the festival. The bright blue sky is filled with countless kites of various colours, shapes, and sizes on the day of Basant Panchami. It should be mentioned that kite flying is more popular during Makar Sankranti in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. The schoolgirls indulge in kite flying activities while dressed in traditional Punjabi clothes known as Giddha.
Mastering India brings you the best in information regarding Indian expertise and how to make use of its full potential for entrepreneurs and well-established multinationals.
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on our social media platforms for more such informative content.