Also known as Shree Panchami in southern parts of India, Vasant Panchami falls on the fifth day of Magh each year in accordance with the Hindu calendar.
This festival is marked as the day of Goddess Saraswati who is the deity of art, music and knowledge. Vasant Panchami is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm in the state of West Bengal and is named as Saraswati Pooja.
It is best known for the use of the color “Yellow” which can be seen everywhere from the garments to the food prepared.
Did You Know?
In a bizarre yet secular turn of events, the Nizamuddin Dargah at Delhi also observes a Sufi Muslim Basant. Legend has it that poet Amir Khusrau saw Indian women carrying yellow flowers to the temple on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami and was spellbound with the beauty of it. Since then it is celebrated with great pomp under the Chisti order.
This festival holds great significance to educational institutions of all realms and a communal prayer offering is observed at the beginning of this auspicious day at the schools and homes alive. A lot of families try to make their newborns spell their first word and engage in poetic as well as the musical exchange to seek blessings of the deity.
In parts of Gujarat, Vasant Panchami is celebrated in the lieu of love and anticipation with Kamdev as well as his wife, Rati are the recipients of all the prayers. Whereas, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh worships Lord Shiva and Parvati.
As for some lesser known facts, at Sun God temple situated at Aurangabad, Bihar, the disciples wash the statues and change their clothes on Vasant Panchami which is followed by a grand celebration.
Flavourous Delicacies
Amber, the pious color of the day can be seen everywhere starting from the white and yellow Saraswati Statue. Not only do men and women dress in hues of Amber but the food also shares the tint. An exchange of yellow sweets and yellow rice at the grand feast is common. Delicacies include Sweet saffron rice, Mango Rava halwa, Lease Rabri, Pumpkin halwa and more.
Basant Kite Festival
Besides donning yellow garments people of Rajasthan also wear elaborate Jasmine garlands and Maharashtrian newly Weds visit temple to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Sikhs and Hindus go about their day in Amber turbans and headdresses as they celebrate Basant festival of kites. This festival of kites is also witnessed at regions of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
The Significance of Yellow Attires
People garbing yellow outfits across the country is indeed a beautfiul sight to behold. Yellow is the color of Basant or Spring, also known as Basanti, denoting properity, optimism & vitality in every hue! Being a strong symbolic representation of Spring, this color every year makes it way to the people's wardrobe!
When it comes to fashion, women don an array of embroidered and embellished salwar suits, sarees, kurta- churidars and other crossover attires. Renditions of lehengas, skirts and other traditional attires in pretty hues of Amber fill the shelves of markets prior to these festivals. Men on the other hand mostly go for dhoti kurta and kurta payjama in the same color tone.
It be celebrated at the different part of the country for different reasons but it sure does lift up our spirits post the chilly winter's. This Vasant Panchami dress your best with Fabriclore’s Collection to add a splash of prosperity and optimism to all your springy design creations! Wishing you all a happy and prosperous Vasant Panchami.
Banner Source: TheWire.in A mustard field in Nadia district, West Bengal. Credit: kgabhi/Flickr, CC BY 2.0Authored By: Sunidhi Gaur
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