Basant Panchami is one of the most important festivals of Hindus. On this auspicious day, people worship Goddess Saraswati. Hindus celebrate Basant Panchami and honor Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of arts, music, wisdom, and knowledge. The celebration takes place on the fifth day, or Panchami, of the Hindu lunar month of Magha. This year, the Basant Panchami festival is celebrated on February 14, 2024.
Basant Panchami 2024 Shubh Muhurat:
Basant Panchami falls on February 14 this year. The Saraswati Puja time will begin at 7:11 am and end at 12:35 pm on February 14, according to Drik Panchang. The shubh muhurat will last for 5 hours and 35 minutes. Additionally, the Panchami tithi on Basant Panchami festival will begin at 2:41 pm on February 13 and end at 12:09 pm on February 14.
Basant Panchami 2024 Puja Vidhi, Rituals and Samagri:
On the day of Saraswati Puja, people should wear yellow clothes. Get up early and take a bath, wear yellow and white colored clothes, and worship Maa Saraswati. Install an idol or picture of the Goddess in your place of worship after bathing it in Ganga water and dressing the Goddess in yellow clothes. After this, offer yellow flowers (marigolds), Akshat, white sandalwood, yellow roll, yellow gulal, incense, and yellow-colored sweets. After this, worship Maa Saraswati by lighting a lamp, singing Saraswati Vandana, chanting mantras, and performing aartis. People also keep their notebooks, office diaries, school materials, and more in front of Maa Saraswati and worship the items. Meanwhile, people associated with any art field (like dance and music) worship their instruments.
Meanwhile, to perform Saraswati Puja, you will need this samagri – yellow flowers, bhog (Besan laddu, Rajbhog, saffron rice, malpua, Bundi ke laddu and banana), saffron, yellow clothes, the idol of Maa Saraswati and Lord Ganesha, betel nut, betel leaf, durva, kumkum, yellow sandalwood, Ganga Jal, ghee, Kalash, camphor, coconut, coin, pen, copy, panchmeva, cow ghee, sugar, sesame, and guggal.
A day that celebrates knowledge
In ancient times, the rishis had their ashrams on the banks of the river Saraswati. Sage Veda Vyasa, too, had his dwelling here. The Vedas, Upanishads, and other scriptures were composed and compiled on the banks of the Saraswati River. The river thus became associated with Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge and wisdom.
Goddess Saraswati is draped in yellow on Vasant Panchami, making her association with the festival and the river complete. People also dress in yellow and share yellow-colored food items on this day. Vasant Panchami, an occasion to worship Goddess Saraswati, is a day to celebrate knowledge as in some traditions, children are initiated into education on this day.
Why is Vasant Panchami celebrated?
Vasant Panchami, known as Saraswati Puja, holds immense significance in Hindu culture and tradition. The Vasant Panchami significance extends to various aspects of life, encompassing cultural, religious, and agricultural elements. Culturally, it is a time for communities to unite, symbolizing prosperity and vitality.
Religious significance is attributed to the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, and the arts. Devotees seek her blessings for academic success, creativity, and spiritual growth. This auspicious festival serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life, where spring brings forth new beginnings, growth, and abundance. Overall, the Vasant Panchami significance underscores the celebration of spring, the reverence for Goddess Saraswati, and the agricultural prosperity it heralds.
In addition to honoring Goddess Saraswati, the importance of Vasant Panchami also shows divine love between Lord Krishna and Radha. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna is said to have worshipped Goddess Saraswati on this day to attain knowledge and wisdom. Furthermore, the festival follows with the blooming of mustard flowers, adding to the yellow splendor of the occasion and symbolizing prosperity and fertility.
Apart from its religious significance, Vasant Panchami is celebrated with cultural passion and communal gatherings. It is a time for families and friends to come together, exchange greetings, and partake in the festive spirit.
As we dive deeper into the significance and customs of Vasant Panchami, we uncover a world of traditions, beliefs, and festivities that embody the essence of spring and the pursuit of knowledge. Join us as we explore the colors, rituals, and joyous celebrations that define this auspicious occasion.
Celebrations in different regions
Apart from being observed as Saraswati Puja, Vasant Panchami is celebrated in different ways in different regions of India.
In Punjab, Vasant Ritu is celebrated as the festival of kites. People are dressed in yellow attire and eat yellow rice. Sikhs wear yellow turbans. In Maharashtra, married couples visit temples wearing yellow clothes on the first Vasant Panchami after their wedding. In Rajasthan, people wear jasmine garlands on this day. In Bihar, the ancient statue of the Deo sun deity was installed on Vasant Panchami. This Sun god statue is washed and decorated with celebrations that continue through the day.
Significance for Sufi Muslims
Vasant Panchami is also of great significance to the Sufi Muslims. Per some Sufi traditions, the revered Sufi poet Amir Khusrau of Delhi from the 13th century CE observed Hindu women carrying yellow flowers on Vasant Panchami. He then introduced this practice among the Sufis, which is practiced to this day by the Sufi Muslims of the Chishti order. Vasant Panchami is also the day when some Sufi Muslims mark the grave of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi.
Like this, the festival of Vasant Panchami is observed in different ways in different parts of India for different reasons. A day to celebrate love and wisdom.
