Basant Panchami- Festival of Goddess Saraswati

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.

Makar Sankranti

Today is the festival of Makar Sankranti.  This festival depends on the position of the Sun and not the Moon. Generally all festivals in India are based on the lunar calendar. On this day the Sun enters the Makar Rashi or Capricorn as it travels its celestial path in the heavens. It is a religious festival and a harvest festival.  It also has material and spiritual significance.

This day signifies the end of Dakshinayana – the period of six months which is the night of Gods. During this time it is considered inauspicious to die. On the day of Makar Sankranti, the Uttarayan starts – the period of six months which is the day of Gods. In the Epic of Mahabharat, Bhisma PitaMaha lay on bed of arrows waiting for the period of Dakshinayana to get over and Uttarayana to begin, so that he could leave his body. Today is also the day when Mother Ganges followed King Bhagirath and entered into the ocean and her purifying waters gave salvation to the thousand sons of King Sagara. On this day thousands of people take bath in GangaSagar for sanctification of self. On this day, Sankranti – a Deity killed a demon called Sankarasur.

Makar Sankranti  is also a harvest festival in most parts of India. Newly harvested rice is cooked in fresh sugarcane juice and offered to the Sun and cows in South India. This dish is called Pongal. In North India, the freshly harvested rice and pulses are made into a spicy salty dish called Kichidi. In Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh people exchange sweets made of sesame seeds and gur and request each other to have sweet speech. In Gujarat, people fly kites from dawn to dusk and nowadays also at night time. Punjabis call this festival Lohri and they make bonfires and throw rice and sugarcane into it. They also dance the famous dance of Bhangra and eat sumptuous food prepared for this occasion. Most of the states of India celebrate this festival in their special ways, customs and traditions. There is gaiety and festive atmosphere everywhere.

Capricorn is the sign of Saturn. On this day the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn - the sign of Saturn. As per Indian legends, Saturn is the son of Sun. The father goes to meet his son in his home. Both these planets are mighty and powerful. Their blessings are very auspicious. We gain both material and spiritual success with the blessings of Sun and Saturn. On this day Sun and Saturn are worshipped.

On this day from dawn to dusk, the atmosphere is flooded with Divine Consciousnesses or Chaitanaya. These higher vibrations boost spiritual practices. When we do our routine japa and dhyana on this day and also extra practices, we are blessed with greater results.

Having a holy dip in the sacred waters of Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri at the revered places situated on the banks of these rivers is considered auspicious and of high spiritual merit. People also offer donations and perform meritorious deeds on this day as it is considered fruitful.

The festivals of India and also the festivals over the world have originated from the position of stars and planets in their heavenly routes. When there is a change in the levels of vibrations due to  changes of planets and stars in heavens, festivals are celebrated. Along with celebrations of food, clothes and gaiety, people are encouraged to pray, meditate, visit holy spots and donate to needy. In India, festivals are a regular and integral part of daily lives of the people. The festivals weave colourful strands of celebration along with golden strands of grace and worship in our lives. Let us celebrate the festivals with a spirit of thanksgiving.

Importance of Paush Month

The Paush Month has begun. It starts on 11th December 2011 and ends on 9th January 2012. It is the tenth lunar month in the Hindu Calender. In Hinduism, this month is considered inauspicious for material work and progress. Generally no marriages, sacred thread ceremony, moving to new house are done during this month. That means the month is free for progress in spiritual sphere.

During Paush month strive for spiritual excellence and lessen the focus on material things. This month has many festivals which have spiritual significance. The Sankat Chaut, Paush Sankranti, Safala Ekadashi, Shanaishchari Amavasya, Vaikunta Ekdashi, Paush Poornima are some of the holy days of the month on which fasting is done and the Lord is worshipped. Dana or donations are also given. The Shakambari Navrati or Paush Navrati is celebrated in North India.

You should use this month for your personal spiritual development. Use the holy vibrations in the atmosphere and follow the festivals and uplift yourself.