India > Festivals > Basant Panchami

Basant Panchami

Basant Panchami or Shree Panchami is completely dedicated to the Goddess Saraswati which marks the onset of the Spring season. In India, Devi Saraswati is considered as the Goddess of music, arts, learning, and immense knowledge. Brahma who is the Husband of Devi Saraswati is considering the creator of the Universe. People in India believes that without the Presence of Devi Saraswati, the world will have ignorance as she spread enlightenment. This festival is celebrated on the fifth day of Magh – which is the Hindu month of Shukla Paksha.

Significance of the Basant Panchami

Goddess Saraswati
Maa Saraswati

In India, there are many festivals and it is about harmony and togetherness. Even the fun of every occasion will always stay incomplete without lights, happiness, and food.

The onset of spring season marks the time for celebrating this amazing festival known as Basant Panchami. This festival is mostly celebrated in the eastern parts of India. Saraswati Puja is a name provided to this festival and people mostly celebrate by this name in several parts of Bihar and West Bengal. However, on the Northern side of India, particularly in Punjab, Basant Panchami will be celebrated as the kite festival and in Rajasthan, it is celebrated by wearing jasmine garland for celebrating the festival.

Hindu Panchami is the onset of the spring season. According to the Hindu calendar, this will fall on its fifth day of the month Magha mass or month.

History

You can find an interesting history behind it and the reason for celebrating Basant Panchami. According to the ancient belief, Devi Saraswati – the god of music, art, and learning was born and people generally worship to get wisdom. This is the reason why people are found celebrating Saraswati Puja on the day of Basant Panchami.

This is mostly celebrated in educational institutions

You can find people especially girls and boys of young age celebrating this festival. You can mostly find colleges and schools celebrating this puja. It has been said that the Goddess Saraswati will bestow wisdom, knowledge, and learning on her devotees as she is the epitome of wisdom. Teachers and students are found everywhere in the school wearing new clothes and offering prayers to the Devi Saraswati. You can also find several songs are being sung and dance performances are being made by the students.

Significance of Basant panchami

Devi Saraswati is the deity who offers wisdom. During this time of the year, you can find the mustards blooming in the fields, and everywhere it is yellow. This is the reason why the color yellow is closely associated with this festival. With the entire mustard field turning yellow, you can easily understand the onset of spring.

Even on this day, students are mostly found to wear yellow dresses. In West Bengal, even the young kids are seen everywhere wearing yellow sarees and kurta (the ethic dress of West Bengal). Even the idol of Goddess Saraswati is covered with yellow saree, as it is said to be her favorite color.

Food Offered on Basant Panchami

As it has been mentioned that yellow is everywhere on this and yellow is the color that personifies light, prosperity, energy, optimism, and peace. This is the reason why people are seen wearing yellow clothes. It seems very adorable to find the toddlers of 3 years wearing yellow sarees and offering prayers to Devi Saraswati.

  • In Bihar and Bengal, Devi Sarawati os offered both laddoo and boondi. Dry fruits and sweet rice combined with saffron is being prepared in every house on this particular occasion. Ganga water, mango wood, Coconut, and baer are some of the other foods that are being offered to the deity especially by the Bengalis.
  • In Punjab, traditionally they make Makke ki Roti with saarso ka saag.
  • In Bihar, people celebrate the festival by offering some delicacies like malpua, Bundi and Kheer to the Goddess.
  • Just like all the other festivals, it consists of some of the traditional delicacies like mixed vegetables kichuri, kesari bhaat, kesar halwa, begun bhaja, paayesh, rajbhog and sondesh are service to Devi Saraswati on it auspicious day.

Saraswati Puja

Basant Panchami is celebrated as Saraswati Puja in Bengal and other parts of India. Even in houses, the puja is conducted to offer prayer to the goddess. Students mostly believe in Devi Saraswati, as she is believed to be the god of wisdom and knowledge and hence every house in the state along with other states performs the rituals.

Also, the yellow colors everywhere provide a sense of positivity among people. In 2021, Basant Panchami will be celebrated on 16th February by the Indians. Therefore wear yellow and make sure to offer some these delicacies while offering prayer to the goddess of knowledge.