Celebrate Vasant Panchami to seek the Blessings of Goddess Saraswathi

[praveen]

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Vasant Panchami is a marked Hindu festival for those who are interested in learning and faculties of art and music. It is the worshipping of Goddess Saraswathi, the deity for education, art and music. It is otherwise known as Shree Panchami and is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Magh.
[h=2]Significance of the name Vasant Panchami
[/h]You may wonder why the name Vasant is included in the title of the festival, since it signifies spring. Yes, you are right. It is a spring festival, as the month of Magh falls in the spring season and the word Panchami also refers to the fifth day of the month. It is the first day of the spring season. As in almost all the names of the other festivals, Vasant Panchami too has its specific connotation in its name.
[h=2]How do we celebrate Vasant Panchami?
[/h]Well, what do they do on the day? Since it is the worship of Goddess Saraswathi, writing is taught to the children for the first time in their life, Brahmin Bojan (inviting Brahmins for lunch) and pithru tarpan (ancestor worship) are undertaken as modes of rituals for the day. In schools, special prayers are conducted to seek the blessings of the goddess of knowledge, Saraswathi and books are placed at the altar of the goddess to gain her benedictions. Some do not even touch the books for the day thinking that it would be irreligious as the books are the representations of the Goddess’ power and grace. People feel it auspicious to wear yellow colored robes on the day as the color yellow represents spiritual knowledge and enlightenment. People prepare yellow sweets and exchange them with great fervor and religiosity.

Some offer special worship to the River Ganges, Mother Earth and Sun God for their enlightening support and energy rendered in preparing food grains as these gods are the deities for the fertility of the soil and cultivation. It is a mode of thanks giving to these deities for their blessings and grace showered upon their devotees. A pooja to the God of Love, Kamadev is also performed by some devotees, since the season spring is a harbinger of messages of love with its pleasant greenery and natural flourishing and blossoming of flora. In Punjab, Vasant Panchami is considered as the kite festival and a colorful kite flying takes place on this day every year.
[h=2]Significance of the Festival
[/h]It is the month of spring and a day of entertainment and happiness. The environmental rhapsodies captivate the mind and you feel like dancing, singing and jumping with the pleasantries of Nature. You celebrate and that too worship the right Goddess of Learning, Music, Art and Culture on Vasant Panchami. Is that all the significance of the festival? It means more. Goddess Saraswathi stands for Gnana (knowledge) and the removal of Agnana, (ignorance). The Day signifies spiritual enlightenment and the eradication of ignorance. Spiritual knowledge starts growing from this Panchami and the darkness of ignorance runs away gradually. It is the deity of spiritual grace who guards us and protects us from all kinds of avidhya (lack of knowledge) and bestows her blessings and grace upon us. No wonder, you and I rush to celebrate this festival not only for its color and décor but for its deep spiritual undertones as well.

People regard Vasant Panchami as the most auspicious day to start a factory or construct a house or marriage. Saraswathi is everything good and her day is the appropriate time to start a new business or any good thing in life.

We all know that Goddess Saraswathi is always seated on a lotus, robed in white color, looking calm and serene with her eyes full of compassion. The deity’s grace is ultimate for any learner or seeker of good things on earth. Let us worship Saraswathi on Vasant Panchami and find a place under the lotus feet of Her grace.

 

[zebra16]

Sri Praveen,

Please also give the english date it falls on as there are many NRIs/PIOs in our forum as also many tambrams who may not be knowing exactly when is magha panchama in this year.

 

[kgopalan]

14-02-2013 is vasanth panchami day. 13th is kunda chathurthy day. i have given details in monthly festival thread in rituals ceremonies an pooja for 12 months for this year.

 

[DR.C.NARAYANI]

Hello praveen sir ,Thanks a lot for the information being shared with us,I have heard this day more famous in north-indians. even certain places ,its followed as NAVARATHRI on these special days.Hope some well versed our people can throw some light to this other navarathri as we are familiar only of puratasae month .Thanks in advance .

 

[tbs]

Hello praveen sir ,Thanks a lot for the information being shared with us,I have heard this day more famous in north-indians. even certain places ,its followed as NAVARATHRI on these special days.Hope some well versed our people can throw some light to this other navarathri as we are familiar only of puratasae month .Thanks in advance .

hi
this is called VASANTHA NAVARATHRI......especially for assamese/north eastern states....where bhrahmaputra flows....

 

[vgane]

In our society in Gurgaon we are havng a gala celebration planned on Feb 15 (Friday)...The function is planned by the Bengalis

 

[Nacchinarkiniyan]

This Navarathri is called Guhya Navaratri. Panchami is celebrated as Saraswathi Puja In Eastern India.

 

[P.J.]

Some more Details about Basant Panchami



Basant Panchami also known as Vasant Panchami marks the beginning of spring season. It falls on the fifth day of Maagh (the Indian month).
In Hindi language the word ‘Basant/Vasant’ means spring and ‘Panchami’ means the fifth day



Significance of Basant Panchami

Apart from marking the beginning of the spring season the festival of Basant Panchami is also known as the birthday of Goddess Saraswati, Lord Brahma’s wife. According to the Hindu mythology Goddess Saraswati symbolizes constant flow of knowledge, wisdom and learning. Therefore, the festival is especially celebrated in all institutions of learning. Students observe the blessings from Maa Saraswati on this day.

Goddess Saraswathi



In the Rigveda, Saraswati is a river as well as its personification as a goddess. In the post-Vedic age, she began to lose her status as a river goddess and became increasingly associated with literature, arts, music, etc. In Hinduism, Saraswati represents intelligence, consciousness, cosmic knowledge, creativity, education, enlightenment, music, the arts, eloquence and power. Hindus worship her not only for "academic knowledge", but for "divine knowledge" essential to achieve moksha.
The name Saraswati comes from saras (meaning "flow") and wati (meaning "she who has flow"). In Telugu Language(తెలుగుభాష) she is also known as chaduvula talli(చదువులతల్లి), Sharada(శారద). In Konkani, she is referred to as Sharada, Veenapani, Pustaka dharini, Vidyadayini. In Kannada, variants of her name include Sharade, Sharadamba, Vani, Veenapani in the famous Shringeri temple. In Tamil, she is also known as kalaimagal (கலைமகள்), Kalaivaani (கலைவாணி), Vaani (வாணி). She is also addressed as Sharada (the one who loves the autumn season), Veena pustaka dharani (the one holding books and a Veena), Vaakdevi, Vagdevi, Vani (all meaning "speech"), Varadhanayagi (the one bestowing boons) and many other names.

 

[P.J.]

Calcutta/West Bengal Celebrates Saraswathi Poja
Kolkata celebrates Saraswati Puja - The Times of India

KOLKATA: Goddess Saraswati, considered the deity of music, culture and learning, was worshiped across the city Friday, with women clad in traditional yellow saris offering flowers, children participating in cultural programmes and families sharing 'prasad'.

Clay idols of the goddess were seen with a crescent moon on the brow, riding a swan or seated on a lotus flower with flowers, fruits and sweets placed as offerings before it.

The rituals started early morning and lasted till midday in schools, colleges, community clubs and households, with priests chanting mantras and devotees placing seasonal palash flowers at the deity's feet to the ringing sounds of cymbals and conch shells.

Women and girls were decked up in saris in various shades of yellow signifying Basant Panchami, heralding the arrival of spring.

People from all age groups also had generous amounts of the customary 'khichdi' -- a mixture of rice and lentils -- accompanied with dollops of sweet chutney.

Traditionally the day is a no-study affair for students who are happy to give their textbooks a miss to participate in functions organised by their educational institutes.

To receive the goddess's blessings, students also placed their books, pens and musical instruments beside the idol for the entire day.

Students also sang Tagore's songs with harmonium and 'tanpura' playing in the background.

 

[biswa]

Celebrated Saraswati Puja at our local temple yesterday (in the US). Very nice.