Vasant Panchami Festival of North India
Name of Festival : Vasant Panchami festival
Major Territory of Celebration
Vasant Panchami festival is celebrated in North India
Time of celebration (Months)
Vasant Panchami falls in the month of Phalguna (February – March ) on the 5th day.
Worship in Festival
In this day people worship the Goddess Saraswati
About Festival
Vasant Panchami sometimes referred to as Basant Panchami or Shree Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrating Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music , art refinement. It is ‘Spring Festival’ and celebrated in North India.It is the ceremonial welcome to spring when first change in the departing winter is noticed.
On this day young girls yellow garments,in the diverse shades of yellow magnify the splendor of nature. Saraswati is worshipped dressed in yellow, and yellow sweets are consumed within the families. Kite flying, a popular sport in India, is associated with the Basant Panchami day. On this day A grand puja is held for goddess Saraswathi, the goddess of creativity who is the wife of Brahma, the source of creation.
Some people feed Brahmanas on this day. Pitri-Tarpan (ancestor worship) is done on this day. The god of love (Kamdev) is also worshipped on this day.Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm and Hindu temples and households are full of activity on this day. This is also a special day for school children as they observe it with great reverence.
In West Bengal & Orissa saraswati puja is celebrated in Hindu households and also in schools and colleges. Bengali/ Oriya men are usually dressed in traditional paijama and punjabi. Notebooks, pencils and pens are kept at the Devi’s feet for blessings and then used by the students . Students write their names, address and the roll number on a piece of paper and put it in the Hundi(pot) and after praying for success! Student is believed the Goddess blesses them for good and positive results.
