Explore date, celebrations and history about Vasant Panchami, A festival dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and onset of spring season in India.
India is a land of millions of gods and deities who are worshipped with the utmost devotion on several occasions. One such festival in the Hindu calendar is Vasant Panchami, also synonymous with the practice of Saraswati Puja. Vasant Panchami is one of the most auspicious days in Hindu mythology, hence is a benchmark for new beginnings and happy events.
Vasant Panchami is a prominent festival among Hindus of India, Nepal, and also Indonesia, as well as its historical significance for Punjabis in India and Pakistan. Many Hindus celebrate this festival by worshipping the revered Goddess Saraswati, hence the name Saraswati Puja. However, in the southern states of India, it is celebrated as Sri Panchami.
Vasant Panchami is a festival celebrated to mark the dawn of spring, and thus holds the highest importance in the religious communities of the Indian subcontinent. People from different parts of the country celebrate it just as unique as their beliefs and devotion. For some, it also signifies the beginning of Holika and Holi preparations that follows Vasant Panchami exactly 40 days later.
Vasant Panchami is often dubbed as Saraswati Puja due to its significance to Goddess Saraswati. In Hindu mythology, Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, language, music, and arts. She also symbolizes good fortune in creative energy and power. Therefore, the fifth day of the month of Magh is dedicated to Saraswati Puja as devotees believe it to be the most auspicious day in the year. This day holds exceptional value for personal events like marriages, naming ceremonies, house warming, and even institution inaugurations. For the same reason, parents like to take this day as the first time to introduce young children to letters, by encouraging them to write their first words by hand.
When is Vasant Panchami in 2023?
Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja is celebrated on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Magh Maas. Magh is a month that marks the beginning of spring and usually correlates between the month of January and February in the Gregorian calendar. In the bright half of the Hindu lunisolar calendar, Vasant Panchami typically comes around in late January or February. Accordingly, in the year 2023, Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja is forecasted on the 26th of January.
Why do we Celebrate Vasant Panchami?
The spring season, or basant, as it is popularly called in the North-Indian states, is the most wonderful time for the agricultural regions of the country. Spring is also the time of harvest, which after a cold spell of harsh winters, farmers rejoice and celebrate by worshipping Goddess Saraswati to invoke her blessings. Many people wear yellow coloured-clothes and cook yellow-themed foods, such as yellow rice, and Kesar halwa [a form of Indian pastry prepared from flour, sugar, nuts and cardamom powder]. The colour yellow is believed to be Goddess Saraswati’s favorite, hence taking precedence throughout the festive customs and traditions.
Vasant Panchami has significance in the Sikh community as well, wherein Maharaja Ranjit Singh started the tradition of kite flying competition on this day. Ever since, in the Punjabi communities of Lahore [now in Pakistan], and Punjab of India, youth participates in friendly matches of kite flying and celebrate Basant Panchami by playing music all day and enjoying sweets and snacks with their friends and neighbours on the rooftops.
History of Basant Panchami
There are many legends associated with the festival of Vasant Panchami. One of the primary roots of this day is in relation to Lord Brahma, the creator of the whole universe. It is said that one day, Brahma wanted to see his creation with his own eyes. But, upon visiting Earth, he was very disappointed to see so much silence and loneliness that plagued the world. To remedy this, he sprinkled some water from his kamandal and an angel appeared from a tree nearby. He requested the angel to play melodious music for the world from the veena she was holding. And as she played mesmerizing tunes, the universe blossomed and the people rejoiced. Thus is the legend of how Saraswati was born and people started worshipping her by the name of Veena Vadini.
Another popular belief reflects the devotion of people who worship God Kama, the Hindu deity of love. According to the legend, Lord Shiva burnt Kamadeva to ashes as a punishment for his wrongdoings. On learning of his demise, Kamadeva’s wife Rati was distraught and set out on a rigorous penance for 40 days in an effort to appease Lord Shiva. Finally, pleased by her devotion, Lord Shiva resurrected Kamadeva and thus started the day dedicated to the love and dedication to one’s consort. People in several regions celebrate this day as a festival called Rati-Kaam Mahotsav.
Vasant Panchami Date [2022 - 2027]
YearDate [Day]20225 February [Saturday]202326 January [Thursday]202414 February [Wednesday]20253 February [Monday]202623 January [Friday]202711 February [Thursday]