Hindus celebrate Basant Panchami, which has special religious and cultural significance. In many parts of the country, the festival is known as Saraswati Puja and involves worshipping Goddess Saraswati. Yellow is considered auspicious and represents  so people wear it. It is customary for children to write their first words in front of Saraswati's idol to seek her blessing since she is worshipped as the Goddess of knowledge, wisdom, art, and culture. 

Celebrations across India for Basant Panchmi

There are many ways in which Indians celebrate this day, including wearing yellow clothes, eating sweets, decorating their homes with yellow flowers, and fasting for the whole day.

Flying kites symbolizes freedom and joy in Punjab. In Maharashtra, newlyweds offer their prayers at a temple wearing yellow clothes on their first Basant Panchmi together. People in Rajasthan wear jasmine garlands to celebrate the day. Artists worship Goddess Saraswati in West Bengal.

On this day, students around the country offer their stationery to Saraswati, and they read or write.

Basant Panchami's legend

Lord Brahma created living beings, especially the human form, at the beginning of creation on the orders of Lord Vishnu. Brahma ji was not happy with the creation he created. The people used to feel something was missing, so there was silence. Taking permission from Lord Vishnu, Brahma ji sprinkled water from his ka manual. As soon as the water particles were scattered on the earth, they started vibrating. An incredible power appeared from among the trees as soon afterward. Having four arms, the woman held a veena and a groom's hand in the other. Brahma named her Saraswati, the Goddess of speech when; when this Goddess made the musical sound of the veena, all living beings could speak. The other two hands held a book and a rosary.

Basant Panchami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Saraswati, and she is also known as Vagiswarri, Bhagwati, Sharda, Veenavadini, and Wang Devi.

In the Puranas, Shri Krishna gave Saraswati the boon to be worshipped on Basant Panchami, so Mother Saraswati is worshipped on this day as the Goddess of learning.

Students who listen to this story chant the mantra daily with a happy heart and meditate on Maa Saraswati to fulfill their wishes.

Originally referred to as Vasant Panchami, this festival marks the onset of spring, which occurs on the fifth day of the month of Magha, hence the name Basant Panchami.

Since yellow is the color of mustard flowers that bloom in spring, Basant Panchami is also called Shree Panchami or Saraswati Puja.

Basant Panchami - Traditional Celebrations

On the day of Basant Panchami, it is considered auspicious to wear bright yellow-colored dresses. Yellow sweets, such as Kesar Ka Halwa, are made at home and shared and distributed among friends, neighbors, and family. As the Goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and different forms of learning, such as art, music, and culture, Saraswati is revered by many. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped for her blessings of enlightenment and for keeping ignorance at bay in temples and educational institutions.

A popular ritual on Basant Panchami is Akshar-Abhyasam or Vidya-Abhyasam, which symbolizes the beginning of education. It is commonly used to teach young children the alphabet and how to write their first letters. In many places, students spend this day cleaning their pens, pen cases, and ink pots and keeping their pens, pencils, and notebooks near the idols of Devi Saraswati. In addition, they do not read or write on this day since it is considered better to worship the things of education rather than use them.

Celebrate Basant Panchami with your family by following these tips
 

Plan and make sure everyone wears bright yellow dresses on Basant Panchami.

Watch Saraswati Vandana videos online and learn some of the prayers to perform at home.

Distribute special sweets among the needy after involving your children in the preparation.

Organize and clean your children's books, notebooks, geometry boxes, and bags by teaching them the value of education.

Visit the nearest temples with your family and explain the significance of Goddess Saraswati to your children.

Celebrate Basant Panchami this spring and enjoy the blossoming of flowers!

People of all religions in India celebrate it. Hindus worship the Goddess Saraswati, a goddess of knowledge, music, and art. Babies also write their first words on this day. In many schools, Saraswati is worshipped. On this day, mustard flowers bloom in the fields, so people wear matching yellow clothes to celebrate them.

Rajasthani women with jasmine garlands celebrate this day. In Punjab, Sikhs wear yellow turbans. Everything is yellow. It is also a festival of kites. Kites are flown everywhere. In West Bengal and Odisha, people carry the idol of Saraswati in bright colors and then submerge it in water.

Hindus in Indonesia, Nepal, and Pakistan also celebrate this festival on Basant Panchami. A kite festival is also held on this day in the Dargah Nizamuddin in Delhi.

As with other festivals, Basant Panchami is a day of happiness. This celebration of Nature reminds us of our connection to the earth.