Basant Panchami

Being reckoned as a renowned Hindu festival, Basant Panchami of Bihar is feted on the fifth day of the month called Magh according to the Indian calender that falls between the months of January and February.

On this auspicious day, the masses pay their sincere homage and offerings to the deity associated with education, music and art, 'Saraswati'. The word 'basant' in Basant Panchami in fact refers to the commencement of the heavenly delectable spring season.

The Basant Panchami possesses an integral connection with the yellow color as majority of the people are clad in traditional yellow-colored attire and apply a 'tilak' or mark composed of turmeric on their forehead to imbibe the holy essence of this blessed event. A truly spectacular mouth-watering delicacy, 'kesar halva' adds a special touch to this prosperous occasion.

The frolicking sport regarded as kite-flying also finds its spot in the occasion of Basant Panchami as the kids along with the adults get lost in the midst of this majestic game.

In Basant Panchami the primary items that are served as 'prasadam' are 'ber' which is a fruit grown copiously in the states of India that fall in the northern and eastern realm along with 'sangari' which is a kind of bean procured primarily from the roots of the radish sapling.

On the innocuous occasion of Basant Panchami, people extend their worship to their forefathers through a wide-spread ritual called 'pitri-tarpan', the divinity related to love 'Kama' is also worshiped on this day.