Vasant means spring and Panchami is the fifth day as per the lunar calendar. Vasant Panchami falls on the fifth day after Amavasya in the month of Magh (Thai) between January and February. It celebrates the arrival of the spring season and the start of the holy festival. It is also in the worship of Goddess Saraswathi, the symbol of wisdom, arts, and knowledge.This day is considered as the birthday of Goddess Saraswathi.
On this day, people wear yellow coloured dresses and offer yellow flowers to gods, goddesses, and others. Yellow is a symbol of vibrancy and energy. Since this is the start of the spring, all fields will look bright with yellow flowers. In order to celebrate the surrounding energy and vibrancy, people wear a yellow coloured dress and offer yellow colour flowers to Gods. Kesar halwa is the sweet prepared on this day.
Vasant Panchami is mostly celebrated in North India and there is a tradition of flying kites on this day. Young children are initiated into learning on this day as well. People offer food to Brahmins and pay homage to their ancestors through doing tarpanam.
People recite this sloka in worship of Saraswathi on this day
om saraswati mahabhage,
vidye kamala lochane |
viswarupe vishalakshmi,
vidyam dehi namo ‘stute ||
jaya jaya devi, charachara share,
kuchayuga shobhita, mukta haare |
vina ranjita, pustaka haste,
bhagavati bharati devi namo ‘stute ||
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