Vasant Pancham
I marks the beginning of the spring season. The festival of spring is celebrated with full vivacity and joy amongst the Hindu people. In Hindi language, the word '' basant / vasant'' means ''spring'' and ''panchami'' means the fifth day. In short, Basant Panchami is celebrated as the fifth day of Spring Season. Vasant Panchami falls on the fifth day of the Indian month, Maagh (January-February). This festival is also known as Saraswati Puja.
Vasant Panchami and its Significance
The festival of Basant Panchami is dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom. According to the Hindu mythology, the goddess symbolizes constant flow of knowledge and wisdom. Vasant Panchami is also believed as the birthday of Goddess Saraswati. The spring festival of Basant Panchami is especially celebrated in the institutions of learning. As Saraswati is the goddess of learning, Students observe the blessings from Maa Saraswati. Spring is the season when crops are fully bloomed, so people also celebrate this occasion by flying kites.
Punjab 's Basant
In Punjab the festival is called Basant (not Vasant) Panchami. Kite flying is popular on this day. The days leading to the festival represent busy times for Kite makers for the usually clear blue skies tend to be filled with kites of all colors. Often on the Basant Panchami day, if there is a good breeze, one could see nothing but innumerable multi-colored kites in the sky, swishing over in all directions.
The Basant fair is held in many villages of' the Punjab. People put on yellow costumes appropriate to the season. One huge mass of mustard blossom seems walking down to the fair. Before Partition the main fair was celebrated in Lahore at the samadi (tomb) of Hakeekat Rai who, though a mere lad, preferred martyrdom at the hands of the Mughuls to swerving from his chosen path of duty.
Yellow color is given special attention and dominates everywhere on this particular day. Yellow color is associated with Goddess Saraswati as well as the mustard crop. People wear yellow clothes, make yellow color sweets on the day of Saraswati Puja. The Goddess of art, learning, knowledge and wisdom, Maa Saraswati is worshipped with full dedication. On this day, People also feed Brahmans with the feeling that their ancestors are accepting the food. Kite-flying has become the part of this festival and people really enjoy this event.
Basant Panchami is a festival full of religious, seasonal and social significance. It is celebrated by Hindus all over the world with enthusiasm and new sense of optimism.
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