Written By: Priyanka Rajpal | Updated: Jan 31, 2017, 6:08 PM
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Basant Panchami marks the beginning of spring season and falls on the fifth day of Maagh each year. The word 'Basant' means spring and 'Panchami' denotes the fifth day on which the festival falls. Here is why its celebrations are specific every year.
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Spring means pleasant weather, free from the scorching heat, the cold bites or dodgy rains. It is therefore crowned as the king of all seasons. According to custom, temples dedicated to Goddess Saraswati are filled with sacred offerings a day before Basant Panchami, with the belief that the Goddess would join in the celebrations by attending the traditional feast the following morning.
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The scintillating yellow colour holds great importance on this day. The color of Basant (Spring) is yellow, also known as the 'Basanti' colour. It symbolizes prosperity, light, energy and optimism. This is the reason why people wear yellow clothes and make traditional delicacies in yellow hues.
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Basant Panchami observes the birth of Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, education, art, culture and music.
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Traditionally children were taught to write their first word on this day. It is considered a blessed beginning of learning with the Goddess of Knowledge worshiped as the presiding deity on this day.
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According to folklore, snakes are fed with milk on Basant Panchami to bring wealth and prosperity in the coming days.
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Sweet offerings vary from state to state on this day such as in Bengal Goddess Saraswati is offered boondi ke ladoo and sweet rice and Kheer, Malpua and Boondi in Bihar, kesari bhaat in Uttar Pradesh.
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Kite flying, the popular sport of India, is associated with the festival of Basant Panchami. Especially in Punjab, the kite flying tradition has been given great importance. Also, on the day of Basant Panchami a log with a figure of Holika is placed in a public place. During the next 40 days, devotees add twigs and other flammable material to form a pyre which is lit on Holi.
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