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Vasant Panchami is a cultural and religious festival celebrated in India, that would fall on 16th February 2021 this year. It is a devotional occasion for worship of Saraswati Mata, the Goddess of knowledge, language, music and all arts. As such, the festival is often called Saraswati Mata Puja in certain parts of India.
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Vasant Panchami - When is it celebrated?
Vasant Panchami marks the end of winter season and arrival of spring season and is celebrated on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha (bright Half) of the ‘Magh’ month of the Hindu calendar which generally falls in the month of January-February. It will be celebrated on 16th February 2021 this year. Vasant Panchami marks the ripening of mustard crop with appearance of yellow flowers in the agricultural fields. Preparations for the festival of Holi begin on Vasant Panchami which falls 40 days from Vasant Panchami.
Significance of Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami is an extremely auspicious day for Maa Saraswati Puja. Saraswati Mata is the wife of Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe. Ancient Hindu scriptures depict Saraswati Mata as a pristine lady dressed in white embellished with white pearls and flowers sitting on a blooming white lotus in a wide stretch of water holding a veena (a musical instrument similar to sitar). Four hands of Goddess Saraswati symbolise ego, intellect, alertness and the mind.
It is believed that one who worships Saraswati Mata on Vasant Panchami is blessed with wisdom, learning, and knowledge. It is considered as one of the best days for kids to write their first word with finger or pencil. Vasant Panchami is considered very auspicious for starting new ventures, doing housewarming ceremony, buying gold, financial investments, and marriage. Vasant Panchami marks the end of winter season and beginning of spring season.
Saraswati Puja Rituals
Hindus worship Saraswati Mata, the Goddess of knowledge, language, music, arts, and creativity on the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami. Yellow is the favourite colour of Saraswati Mata and the colour yellow can be seen everywhere on Vasant Panchami. Ripening of yellow flowers of mustard crop in the agriculture fields is celebrated on this day. The colour Yellow also symbolises peace, prosperity, light, energy, and optimism for people at this time of the year.
The day of Vasant Panchami begins with Maa Saraswati Puja. Devotees wake up early and clean themselves, wearing yellow dresses for the Puja. A white or yellow coloured cloth is be spread and the idol of Goddess Saraswati dressed in yellow is placed in the centre of a raised platform with the idol of Lord Ganesha besides her.
Small lamp (diya) and incense sticks are lightened in front of the idols. Books, notebooks, music instruments are also placed before the idols for the blessings. On a plate rice, turmeric, kumkum, flowers and yellow sweets/ yellow coloured cooked rice are placed and offered to Saraswati Maa and Lord Ganesha. Then with closed eyes and joined hands Saraswati mantras and aarti are recited. The Puja is concluded with Maa Saraswati aarti and prasad is shared with the family.
Maa Saraswati Beej Mantra:
“Aum Shreem Bhreem Saraswathaye Namaha”.
“Aum Aing Saraswathye Namaha’
Recitation of Maa Saraswati Beej Mantra increases intelligence and the power of speech. It is especially recommended for students and children to recite this mantra on a regular basis to receive blessings of Saraswati Mata.
Maa Saraswati Puja is performed in educational institutions where students and teachers offer prayer to Saraswati Mata and seek her blessings. Special cultural and musical events are held to please Maa Saraswati on this day.
Small lamp (diya) and incense sticks are lightened in front of the idols. Books, notebooks, music instruments are also placed before the idols for the blessings. On a plate rice, turmeric, kumkum, flowers and yellow sweets/ yellow coloured cooked rice are placed and offered to Saraswati Maa and Lord Ganesha. Then with closed eyes and joined hands Saraswati mantras and aarti are recited. The Puja is concluded with Maa Saraswati aarti and prasad is shared with the family.
Beliefs associated with Vasant Panchami
There are many beliefs and legends associated with celebration of Vasant Panchami. Some these legends include:
- A popular belief is that the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami is the day on which the Goddess of learning and knowledge Saraswati Mata was born.
- Another legend behind Vasant Panchami is that on this day at the request of Goddess Parvati and other Gods, the Hindu god of love Kama Dev shot arrows of love made of flowers and bees at Lord Shiva from his bow of sugarcane. He did this in order to wake Lord Shiva from his deep meditation and pay attention to Maa Parvati.
- Another belief suggests that on this say, Goddess Saraswati blessed poet Kalidas with the strengths of his knowledge and culture.
- Yet another belief in some parts of India is that this day marks the beginning of the universe by the hands of Lord Brahma.
- It is also believed that on the very day of Vasant Panchami, Lord Rama ate the half-tasted grapes of Mata Shabri.
Vasant Panchami - The Celebration
People across India celebrate Vasant Panchami in various ways depending on the region.
- Kite flying has become a traditional and popular event in northern India on the day of Vasant Panchami.
- In eastern states of India, people visit the temples of Saraswati Mata and worship her.
- Educational institutions in Bangladesh perform a special Puja and observe a holiday for rest of the day.
- People of Rajasthan wear garland of Jasmine as a custom on Vasant Panchami
- Newlywed couples dress up in yellow on their first Vasant Panchami and visit a temple and offer prayers in Maharashtra.
- Lord Shiva, Parvati Maa, Dharti Mata (Mother Earth), and the Crops are also worshiped in Uttarakhand. People wear yellow and eat yellow rice on this day.
- People of all faiths celebrate Vasant Panchami as a seasonal festival, and it is called Basant the festival of kites. Flying kites is the most popular event. To emulate the yellow mustard flowers filled fields, people wear yellow clothes and eat yellow rice.
- Sikhs celebrate Vasant Panchami to mark the beginning of spring. The founder of the Sikh empire Maharaja Ranjit Singh made Vasant Panchami celebrations a social event in gurdwaras. Both Maharaja and his queen used to dress in yellow and fly kites.
- Basant Panchami fair is held in Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur to celebrate the day.
Festivals in India are all about togetherness and harmony. Celebrations of Vasant Panchami mark the beginning of spring season and also celebrated as festival of kites. This year Vasant Panchami will be celebrated on February16th, 2021 (Tuesday) in India.
