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VASANT PANCHAMI SARASWATI PUJA

The day of Vasant Panchami is dedicated to Goddess

Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge, music, arts,
wisdom and the learning.

Vasant Panchami is known as Shri Panchami as well

as Saraswati Puja especially in West Bengal.

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It should be noted that Saraswati Puja is also

done during Sharad Navratri which is more popular in
South India

VASANT PANCHAMI SIGNIFICANCE

Vasant Panchami is believed to be the birth
anniversary of Goddess Saraswati. Hence the day of Vasant
Panchami is also known as Saraswati Jayanti.

As Diwali is significant for worshipping Lakshmi, the

goddess of wealth and prosperity and Navratri is
significant for worshipping Durga, the goddess of power
and valor, similarly Vasant Panchami is significant for
worshipping Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and
wisdom.

On this day, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped during

Purvahna time which is the time before midday as per
Hindu division of the day.
Devotees adorn the deity with white clothes and
flowers as the white color is believed to be the favorite
color of Goddess Saraswati.

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Usually, the sweets made of milk and white

sesame are offered to Goddess Saraswati and distributed as
Prasad among friends and family members.
In north India, yellow flowers are offered to Goddess
Saraswati on the auspicious day of Vasant Panchami due to
the abundance of blossomed mustard flowers and marigold
(Genda Phool) at this time of the year.
The day of Vasant Panchami is significant for Vidhya
Arambha, the ritual of introducing young children to the
world of education and formal learning. Most schools and
colleges arrange Saraswati Puja on the day of Vasant
Panchami.

Vasant is the equivalent to spring and one of the

seasons out of six Indian seasons in Hindu calendar.

Vasant Panchami is misnomer as the day is not linked

to Indian season of Vasant. Vasant Panchami is not
necessarily falls during the season of Vasant. However, in
present time, in some years it falls during Vasant. Hence,
Shri Panchami and Saraswati Puja are more appropriate
names to refer the day of Vasant Panchami as none of the
Hindu festivals are linked to seasons.

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VASANT PANCHAMI DEITY(S)

Goddess Saraswati

VASANT PANCHAMI DATE AND TIME

As per Hindu Calendar Vasant Panchami is observed

during
Shukla Paksha Panchami of Magha lunar month

VASANT PANCHAMI OBSERVANCE

Following are the main rituals and activities which are

followed on the day of Vasant Panchami -

• Saraswati Puja at home

• flying kites
• wearing white and yellow dresses
• offering mustard and marigold flowers to Goddess
Saraswati
• Vidhya Arambha for kids

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• Saraswati Puja at schools and colleges

• starting new ventures especially inaugurate educational
institutes and colleges
• Pitri Tarpan for deceased family members

VASANT PANCHAMI REGIONAL VARIANCE

Vasant Panchami in Brij - Vasant Panchami celebrations

are none other than those in temples of Mathura and
Vrindavan. The day of Vasant Panchami marks the
beginning of Holi festivities in Brij temples. On the day of
Vasant Panchami, most temples are decorated with yellow
flowers. The idols are adorned with yellow dresses to mark
the arrival of spring.

On this day, the famous Shah Bihari temple in Vrindavan

opens Vasanti room for devotees. In Shri Banke Bihari
temple of Vrindavan, priests start Holi celebrations by
tossing Abeer and Gulal on devotees. Those who prepare
Holika Dahan Pandal dig up holes and install Holi Danda
(a wooden stick) which would pile up with waste wood and
dried cow-dungs in next 41 days for Holika Dahan rituals.

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In West Bengal - Vasant Panchami is celebrated as

Saraswati Puja in West Bengal.

Like Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja is celebrated with lots

of devotion and enthusiasm. Saraswati Puja is performed
especially by students.

As a custom, the girl students wear yellow Basanti Sari

and the boys wear Dhoti and Kurta.
The students as well as artists keep education books,
musical instruments, paint-brushes, canvas, ink pots and
bamboo quills in front of the idol and worship them along
with Goddess Saraswati.

In most homes, Anjali is offered to Goddess Saraswati

in the morning. The Goddess is worshipped with Bel
leaves, marigold, Palash and Guldaudi flowers, and Sandal
paste.

Like Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja is also celebrated as a

community festival, people come together and build
Pandals in their localities and install the idol of Goddess
Saraswati.
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Traditionally, music is played on the

gramophone to appease and to get the blessings of the
Goddess of wisdom and knowledge.
In Naivedhya, Kul (which is jujube fruit and popularly
known as Ber in North India), apples, dates and bananas
are offered to Goddess Saraswati and later distributed
among devotees.

Even though the Kul fruit is available in the market

much before the festival, many people don't start eating it
until the fruit has been offered to Goddess Saraswati on
Magha Panchami day. Most people look forward to relish
the Kul fruit on this day.

In the evening the idol of Goddess Saraswati is taken

out of home or Pandals and immersed in the water body
with a gala procession. Usually the idol is immersed on the
third day but many people perform immersion on the
same day of Saraswati Puja.

In Punjab and Haryana - In Punjab and Haryana, Vasant

Panchami is pronounced as Basant Panchami. Basant
Panchami rituals are not related to any worship. However,
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it doesn't make the occasion less significant as the

day is marked with various fun and frolic activities to
welcome the arrival of the spring known as Basant.

The day is very popular for flying kites. Both, men

and women, participate in the event. The activity is so
popular that the demand of kites soars just before Basant
Panchami and kite makers have busy times during the time
of the festival. On the day of Basant Panchami, the clear
blue sky is filled with numerous kites with various colors,
shapes and sizes. It should be noted that in Gujarat and
Andhra Pradesh, kite flying is more popular during the
time of Makar Sankranti.

BASANT PANCHAMI 2022:

Basant Panchami, the beautiful festival that heralds the
beginning of spring season, will be celebrated on February
5 this year.
According to the Hindu tradition, the fifth day of the
auspicious month of ‘Maagh’ is known and celebrated as
Basant Panchami every year.

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The day marks the beginning of 40-day period,

the main transition of the season from winter to spring.
It is believed that it takes little over a month for a new
season to arrive.
Hence, Basant Panchami is the signal of arrival of
spring season.
In India, Hindus celebrate the festival with special
pooja for Saraswati, the Goddess of wisdom.
What is the pooja muhurat for Basant Panchami this year?
This year, the pooja muhurat is in morning. Hindu
scholars, priests and popular panchangs say that Basant
Panchami muhurat will begin from 7:07 am in morning on
February 5 .
And the special muhurat will end at 12:35 pm.
The total duration of pooja muhurat is five and a half
hours.
Whereas the Basant Panchami or Vasant Panchami ‘tithi’
will begin from 3:46 am on February 5 itself.
The ‘tithi’ for the Panchami festival ends 24 hours later at
3:46 am on February 6 on Sunday.

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What is the link between Saraswati Puja and Basant

Panchami?
While many a times, Basant Panchami is
interchangeably known as Saraswati Puja in some parts of
India, they are actually two different festivals with a very
close link.
According to the Hindu scriptures, it’s believed that it was
on the day of Basant Panchami that Goddess Saraswati
appeared from the mouth of her father Lord Brahma to
spread the light of enlightenment in the universe.
Hence, Saraswati Puja is held on Basant Panchami with
special prayers to Goddess of wisdom to grant boon of
knowledge.
What is significance of colour yellow for Basant Panchami
celebrations?
The colour yellow is synonymous with Basant Panchami.
It is said that the bloom of mustard flowers take place
during this period.
People specially dress up in colour yellow to celebrate
Basant Panchami.
In Punjab and Rajasthan, kite-flying is extremely popular.

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In eastern regions such as West Bengal, Bihar and

Odisha, the day is marked as special Saraswati Puja.
Apart from India, neighbouring Nepal also celebrates
Basant Panchami.

DIVINE BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL

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