Hindu Festival No 27A.

[Guest guest]

Dear friends and devotees,

 

Bhakti is eternal,

 

27a.Vasantha Panchami.

(Magha sukla panchami)

 

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

Vasanta Panchmi. Falling on the fifth day (panchami) of the waxing moon (sukhla

paksha) in Magha (February) it is a festival which celebrates the arrival of

spring and pays homage to Goddess Saraswathi the goddess of all knowledge and

the art.

 

Vasanta Panchami has been observed as a festival for worship of Saraswathi

since the Vedic and Puranic age. It is believed that on this day Brahma created

Saraswathi to dislodge the insipidity 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 Saraswathi, that not only the human beings on earth, but

also Devas, Gandharvas, yakshas and Asuras etc., are also made conversant with

good behaviour, intelligence, brilliance, music, speech, poetry, and learns to

differentiate between right and wrong.

Therefore there is the tradition of the worship of Goddess Saraswathi on

Vasantha 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 Saraswathi 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 Saraswathi.

 

Manmatha 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, Lord Shiva burnt Manmatha to

ashes, by opening his third eye, while he tried to inspire Shiva with love. But

on the intervention of his wife Rathi, and other Gods, Shiva 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 Rathi and his friend Vasantha (Spring).

 

In Punjab and the rest of North India, Vasantha Panchami 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.

 

Vasantha in Kashmir.

 

In Kashmir on Vasantha Panchami 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

themselves 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.

 

Vasantha 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

gives themselves up to thorough enjoyment.

(A collection)

 

With love and regards,

 

Sastry.

 

 

 

 

 

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