बसंत पंचमी - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Basant Panchami, also known as Vasant Panchami, is a Hindu festival that marks the arrival of the spring season in India. It falls on the fifth day (Panchami) of the Hindu month of Magha, which usually falls in late January or early February.
- 2. The festival is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Saraswati, who is the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, music, arts, and learning. It is believed that on this day, Saraswati was born or appeared on Earth.
- 3. Basant Panchami is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor, especially in North India. People wear yellow clothes, fly kites, and offer prayers to Saraswati seeking her blessings for wisdom and knowledge.
- 4. Schools and educational institutions organize special Saraswati Puja ceremonies on Basant Panchami to invoke the blessings of the goddess for academic success and excellence.
- 5. Yellow color is associated with Basant Panchami as it symbolizes the vibrancy and vitality of the spring season. People decorate their homes and temples with yellow flowers, clothes, and decorations.
- 6. It is also considered an auspicious day for starting new ventures, learning new skills, and embarking on new journeys. Many people perform Saraswati Puja at home or in temples to seek blessings for success and prosperity.
- 7. In Punjab, Basant Panchami is celebrated as a harvest festival where people offer prayers to the gods for a bountiful harvest. It is also a time for farmers to start preparing their fields for the upcoming sowing season.
- 8. The festival is also associated with the tradition of kite flying, especially in North India. People of all ages gather on rooftops and open spaces to fly colorful kites and engage in friendly kite-flying competitions.
- 9. Special sweet dishes like kesari or sweet saffron rice, boondi laddoos, and yellow-colored sweets are prepared and offered as prasad during Saraswati Puja on Basant Panchami.
- 10. Overall, Basant Panchami is a joyous and vibrant festival that celebrates the arrival of spring, the spirit of renewal, and the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. It is a time to embrace the beauty of nature, seek blessings for success and prosperity, and celebrate the richness of Indian culture and traditions.