About Vasant Panchmi |
| Event | Vasant Panchmi |
| Location | All over India |
| Category | Festival |
| Date | Feb 14, 2024 |
| Main Attraction | Saraswati Puja and Kite Flying |
| Overview/History | Vasant Panchami marks the beginning of the spring season. In eastern parts of India, particularly in West Bengal, it is celebrated as Saraswati Puja. Sates of Punjab and Bihar, celebrate it as a festival of kites. However, during the ancient times, the festival was celebrated in the royal palace of Kamadeva. Dancing girls and other celebrants danced on the beats of dhol. New clothes were designed to participate in the celebrations. The day was marked by singing love songs. Although now the festival is dominated by the worship of the goddess Saraswati, a grand feast is prepared in the honour of Kamadeva. Also, love is still considered an integral part of the day, as it is auspicious to host a large number of weddings during the festival. |
| Celebration | Vasant stands for spring, and Panchami means the fifth day. Thus, the festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the spring season. According to the Hindu calendar, it falls during the Purvahna Kaal on the Panchami Tithi. In other words, it occurs on the fifth day of Magha (which works out to early February). Vasant Panchami, also called Saraswati Puja, or the Festival of Kites is celebrated by the Hindus as well as the Sikh community. On this day, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom and art, Saraswati, is worshipped. Kamadeva and Vasant (the personification of spring) are also honoured on this festival. The colour yellow has a great significance in the celebration of Vasant Panchami. It is believed to be the symbol of blossoming flowers of mustard. Yellow attire is therefore worn by the followers of Saraswati. Moreover, the sweets and dishes prepared for the festival are usually yellow and saffron in color. Since the goddess is considered to be an epitome of wisdom, therefore the day is celebrated in educational institutions also. Statues of Saraswati are adorned with yellow sari and jewellery. These are then worshiped, prayers are offered, and musical events are organized to please the goddess. In many parts of the country, the celebrants set up a grand pandal to welcome the goddess and worship her. In West Bengal, it is celebrated as Sri Panchami. Colourful processions are held to carry idols of Saraswati and immerse it in the holy water of river Ganga. In Firozpur, the day is celebrated by flying colourful kites. Thus the festival is also called as the Kite Festival. The festival is also celebrated in Nepal. There temples of Saraswati are decorated a day before the festival to welcome the goddess for the special feast on Vasant Panchami. In 2013, the festival was celebrated on 28 January but in 2014, the festival will be observed on 4th February. |
