Basant Panchami

Basant Panchami

History

• The history of Basant Panchmi seeps into Hindu religion and mythology. According to lore, it is believed that the great poet Kalidasa was saved on this day by the goddess Saraswati. 

• It is said that when Kalidasa’s wife, a beautiful princess, left him, he was in deep despair. He wanted to drown himself in the river Saraswati.
  
  However, before he could succeed, the goddess appeared before him and asked him to take a dip in the water. Once he had done so, he was filled with immense wisdom and went on to do great things. 

Significance of the festival

• The festival marks the fifth day of the month of Magh, in the Hindu calendar. The word ‘panch’ in Panchmi also stands for five. 

• On this day, goddess Saraswati is honoured through different pujas that happen across the length and breadth of the country. However, it is a predominantly west-Indian festival. 

• Many people believe that this is a very auspicious day to mark new beginnings like getting married, moving into a new home, starting a new business, etc. 

Reason for celebrating the festival

• Another interesting aspect of the history of Basant Panchmi is that the goddess Saraswati was herself born on this day. 

• That is why people across the country hold pujas and mark the day as auspicious.

Importance of yellow colour

• Since Basant Panchmi marks the beginning of Spring, it is interesting to note that the northern parts of India burst into colour around this time.

• The fields in the states of Punjab and Haryana are covered in mustard fields that mark the landscape yellow. 

Food offered

• As a continuation of the celebration of the colour yellow, people prepare yellow-coloured foods. These can include sweets like halwa, besan laddoos and khichadi. 

• The expression of yellow bloom does not just limit itself to the foods cooked. People make it a point to dress in yellow clothes as well.

How long is the festival conducted?

•  Although Basant Panchmi marks a single day. The whole forty-day period before Basant Panchmi is also observed and celebrated to some extent.

• The significance of 40 days here is that it is believed that the transition between two seasons takes around 40 days.

Date of the festival

The next vasantha panchami will be celebrated on the 26th of January 2023.

Conclusion  

Basant Panchmi celebrates hope and positivity and people from all across the country come together to mark the day. No matter whether you are in Uttarakhand or Punjab,

West Bengal or Rajasthan, you will find a different shade of yellow being celebrated on this first day of Spring. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Basant Panchami celebrated in English?

Basant Panchami is celebrated to mark the beginning of the Spring season. In the Hindu religion, Basant Panchmi is also observed as the birthday of Goddess Saraswati. That is why pujas and celebrations are held across the country. 

What is Basant season called in English?

The Basant season is also known as Spring in the English language. This is the season that follows frosty winters. People mark Basant Panchmi as the official beginning of the Spring Season and look forward to pleasant weather.

What do we do on Vasant panchami ?

Different communities across the country celebrate the festival in different ways. Some do it by flying kites and others by wearing floral garlands.

There are some communities where whole processions are taken out and some do so by holding pujas. The colour yellow is also celebrated as the colour of Spring and people cook yellow-coloured foods and dress up in yellow clothes.