what is vasanta panchami

[Guest guest]

http://blessingsonthenet.com/temple/festival3.asp?festivalid=F0661#

 

When the mustard fields turn yellow, it is the time for the spring

festival Vasant Panchmi. Falling on the fifth day(panchami) of the

waxing moon (sukhla paksh)in Magh (February) it is a festival which

celebrates the arrival of spring and pays homage to Goddess Saraswati

the goddesss of all knowledge and the art.

 

Vasant Panchami has been observed as a festival for worship of

Saraswati since the Vedic and Puranic age. It is believed that on

this day Brahma created Saraswati to dislodge the inspidity of the

creation. By bestowing a Veena in her hands, he allotted the

function of speech through her to the world. She was thus named

as ``Veena Vandini’’ and ``Vani Daayani’’ (the Veena player and

the giver of speech).

 

It is by the grace of Saraswati, that Gods and men and are made

conversant with good behaviour, intelligence, brilliance, music,

speech, poetry, and learn to differentiate between right and wrong.

 

Therefore there is the tradition of the worship of Goddess

Saraswati on Basant Panchami festival.

 

Sweet smelling flowers and powdered sandalwood are offered to

the goddess as on this day

 

This is also considered an auspicious day, to begin anything

related to knowledge and art. Traditionally it was on this

day that great saints and teachers, admitted students in their

schools. Many kings used to organize literary seminars and

symposia on this occasion and poets, dramatists and writers

would be felicitated and rewarded. Great dramas of Kalidasa

and other dramatists would be performed before an audience

on this festival

 

Sri Krishna also worshipped Saraswati on this day by virtue

of which he became an expert in the sixteen arts and in all

others.

 

Even in modern days, especially in Bengal it is on this day

that children are made to start their education, so that they

are blessed by Goddess Saraswati.

 

Kamdev the god of love and romance, and the one who also

represents the creative moral force is also invoked and

worshipped on this day, Feasts are arranged in his honour.

On this memorable day, Shiv burnt Kamdev to ashes, by opening

his third eye, while he tried to inspire Shiv with love. But

on the intervention of his wife Rati, and other gods, Shiv

allowed him to be reborn. He is shown riding a parrot,

carrying a bow made of sugarcane, strung with a line of

humming bees, and with it shooting the five darts of desire.

He is accompanied by his wife Rati and his friend Vasanta

(Spring).

 

In the Punjab and the rest of North India Vasant Panchmi

is the festival, observed on a large scale. It is for the

farmers the time when the mustard crop is ripe. People wear

yellow coloured garments. They cook yellow rice. The famous

folk dance ``Bhangra’’ of Punjab glorifies the congregations

on this festival. This is a festival of jubilation when the

farmers are rich with their yield.

 

 

Vasant in Kashmir

 

In Kashmir on Vasant Panchmi or spring festival. Yellow is

considered the colour that represents this season. As yellow

is believed to be a colour particularly

 

acceptable to the sight of the gods in spring time people

dress themselaves in yellow coloured clothes on this day.

 

At this period the Rajputs give themselves up to even greater

license than usual in relation to food and drink, and even

the most sedate people burst into songs in public a testimony

to their praise of nature.

 

Vasant in Assam

 

The spring festival is specially honoured by the forest tribes

of Assam. It is as gay as a carnival and while it lasts, the

women especially the young women, enjoy unusual liberty. Many

days before the actual festival, the young people in the villages

may be seen moving about in groups, gaily dressed or forming

circles, in the midst of which the prettiest girls dance with

their long hair loose on their shoulders. The first day of the

festival is devoted to exchanging visits, the next day is

devoted to bathing and on the third day, the inhabitants of

several groups of villages, old and young, meet at some

appointed place, and give themselves up to thorough enjoyment.

For all hindu festival

http://blessingsonthenet.com/temple/festival3.asp?festivalid=F0661#

 

ganapathy vijaya <srividya101 wrote:

dear all devotees of ma,

 

pl tell me the importance of vasanta panchami as it falls tomorrow.

while panchami itself denotes VAARAHI or THANDINI, i have seen the

devotees from the great state of bengal praying exclusively on

MAHA SARASWATHI on this day ,this is generally done in south

during the last three days of SARADA NAVRATHRI.

 

i am confused.

 

regards

 

ganapathy === vijaya

 

 

 

Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now

 

 

 

 

AUM shrImAtre namaH

AUM namaH shivAya

AUM namaH shivAbhyAm

 

Archives : http://www.ambaa.org/ (Edited)

: /messages//

 

Contact : help

 

 

 

 

With Mail you can get a bigger mailbox -- choose a size that fits your

needs