The Hindu Lunar Month of Magh in India is spring and Basant Panchami is a celebration of the freshness and beauty of spring. Spring is the time of renewal of life, of new relationships, hope and renewed chances for improvement and success. The spiritual aspect of Basant Panchami is also very important. It is the Saraswati Puja. The regeneration of nature, the spectacular dance of new growth, beauty and life around us is the form, grace and beauty of Goddess Saraswati – the Goddess of Learning. She is the Cosmic Intelligence and Divine Storehouse and Expression of Knowledge. The festival and puja are celebrated on the fifth day of lunar fortnight. It usually falls in between the second half of January and the first half of February.
This year Basant Panchami falls on January 28. The festival also indicates that the winter is over and the spring has started. The short days and long cold nights are over and its warmer and the breeze is fresh. Nature is in full blossom. Flowers, fruits and leaves fill the world around us with vibrant colors and fragrances. Spring represents romance and love. Thousands of marriages are celebrated on the day of Basant Panchami as this is a very auspicious day on which marriages and other good work can be performed without checking the Hindu Calendar for suitable time.
As Basant Panchami is a very auspicious day, other important things are also done on this day. The children are taught to write the alphabets and first words. The Brahmins are called home and fed and given donations. Pitr – tarpan or offering of rice with black sesame seeds and water are given to the ancestors as rites of worship. Yellow colour plays an important part in this festival as it represents auspiciousness. It is also the colour of the ripened maize in the fields. It is harvest time and people are happy. They wear yellow garments. Yellow sweets are prepared and eaten. Goddess Saraswati is draped with yellow garments and worshipped. The children fly kites. Kite flying festival is organised in many states in India. This festival is enjoyed with great fervour and enthusiasm by all.
Goddess Saraswati is a part of the trinity of MahaKali, MahaLaxmi, MahaSaraswati. She is the fount head of knowledge and wisdom. She is Goddess of music, all stringed instruments and speech. She personifies all arts, science, music, crafts and other skills. She is called by many names –Shree, Sharada, Vakdevi, Veenavadani etc. She is white complexioned and wears white garments. She sits in the Padmasana posture on a white lotus. She represents purity and excellence. She is peaceful, serene and majestic. She has four hands which represent human personality in learning – mind, intellect, alertness and ego. In one hand she holds a lotus which is symbol of true knowledge and in the other hand she has the sacred scriptures. She holds the Veena with two hands and plays the melodies of Cosmic Love and Wisdom. Her vehicle is the white Swan. The Swan is famed for its capacity to separate milk from mixture of water and milk. We must learn to separate the fact from fiction in life. Her other vehicle is the Peacock which represents the ego. She reminds us that wisdom overcomes ego.
The Saraswati Puja is performed in all homes of India. All educational institutions, students, teachers and academicians worship Her. Singers and musicians also worship Her. Books and musical instruments are placed next to Her Image or Picture during worship and Her blessings are sought for knowledge, wisdom and fine arts.
On this holy day of Basant Pachami, worship Goddess Saraswati in your homes and in your heart. Seek Her blessings to grant you knowledge, wisdom and the Supreme Truth. We need Her Grace every minute of our lives. We cannot function without knowledge and wisdom. When we respect and revere knowledge, we receive the blessings of Goddess Saraswati and are able to make the right use of the knowledge.
