Basant Panchami
Dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, Basant Panchami marks the beginning of the spring season and culmination of winter season in India. Devi Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music, learning and arts. It is believed that without Saraswati, the world would have remained shrouded with ignorance as she is the epitome of enlightenment.
Basant Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day (panchami tithi, shukla paksh) in the month of Magh. It is the time when people start the first lessons of education to their children. This custom is referred to as ‘Vidyarambha’ or ‘Aksharabhyasam’.
Legends
Devi Saraswati is believed to have been manifested on this day. Legend has it that when Lord Bramha created the earth and the humans, he felt that it was lacking something as it was too quiet. It lacked music. So on this day he created Saraswati by sprinkling water in the air. As she came from water she is also called the water deity. She then filled the world with her beautiful voice and music.
Another legend says that the legendary poet Kalidasa was blessed with knowledge and intelligence by her on this day. Kalidas was a foolish man who, by deceit, ended up marrying the beautiful and intelligent princess Vidyottama but she kicked him out after realizing the fact. In despair Kalidasa decided to commit suicide by drowning himself in a river, crying out the Devi’s name. Goddess Saraswati emerged from the same waters and asked him to bathe in it. When Kalidasa took a dip in the river, he was transformed into an extremely wise and learned person and later became a world famous poet.
The Deity
Goddess Saraswati is said to be calm and collected. Her four hands symbolize ego, intellect, alertness and mind. She carries a lotus and scriptures in two of her hands and plays veena or sitar with her other two hands. She is often pictured as riding on a white swan and sometimes on a lotus or peacock also. Her white dress is a symbol of purity and her swan is a sign of our conscience i.e. the ability to discern between right and wrong.
Significance
The significance of Basant Panchami is big in Hindu culture. The day is considered extremely auspicious to start a new work, for wedding or perform a house warming ceremony (griha pravesh). In temples and educational institutes statues of Saraswati are dressed in yellow and worshipped. Most educational institutes arrange special prayers and pujas in the morning to seek the blessings of the goddess. Pens, notebooks and pencils etc are placed near Devi’s feet to be blessed before they are used by the students. In some communities poetic and musical gatherings are also held in reverence for Maa Saraswati. Like Makar Sankranti kite flying is a popular custom associated with this festival. Flying kite on this day signifies freedom and enjoyment.
Colour Associated
The colour of basant is yellow which holds a special meaning as it signifies the brilliance of nature and the vibrancy of life. Yellow symbolizes peace, prosperity, light, energy and optimism. It is the harvest time for mustard crop that has yellow blooms. Idols of Mother Saraswati are dressed in yellow saree and offered yellow flowers. Every home, temple, institute etc. can be seen decorated with yellow strings of flowers. Most of the people can be seen in yellow attire.
Traditional feasts are prepared for the festival which mostly include yellow color snacks and sweets like boondi laddoos, kesar halwa, kesar kheer using saffron strands which gives it a vibrant yellow color and mild fragrance.
Basant Panchami also kicks off preparations for Holika or Holi which takes place forty days later. Vasantotsav is celebrated forty days before spring because any season’s transition period is forty days and after that the season comes in full bloom.
Thus Basant Panchami signifies a journey from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge.
Author Ms Hema Trivedi is an ardent devotee of SriKrishna.