Topics Included • Etymology • Significance • Famous Anecdote • Hindu’s Affiliation • Muslim’s Affiliation • Sikh’s Affiliation • Southern India Affiliation • Yellow Color’s Affiliation • Scientific View • How do we celebrate ? • Celebrations • Symbolism of Saraswati

1. Vasant Panchami

2. Etymology
Vasant Panchami is celebrated every
year on the fifth day of Magha month of
Hindu calendar. The auspicious day marks
the arrival of the spring season after the
cold winter.‘Vasant’ in Hindi means
'spring' and 'Panchami' means 'fifth'.
Hence, as the name itself suggests that
Vasant Panchami, also spelt as Basant
Panchami, falls on the fifth day of Magha
month of the Hindu calendar.

3. Vasant or Basant Panchami (Feb 16, 2021)
The Panchami Tithi shall start at 3.36 am on
February 16 and will continue till 5.46 am on Feb 17.
It is said that the best time to do the puja is in the
afternoon but the entire day is considered as being
auspicious.

4. Vasant Panchami Muhurat:
February 16 at 06:59 am to 12:35 pm
Vasant Panchami Madhyahna: 12:35 pm
Start of Panchami Tithi: February 16 at 03:36 am
End of Panchami Tithi: February 17 at 05:46 am

5. Significance
Spring is considered by many as the ‘King of all
seasons’ and springtime is considered
auspicious to start new work. Hindus believe
that Saraswati was born on this day and that's
why it is also referred to as Saraswati Jayanti.

6. Famous Anecdote
"Hindus believe that Lord Brahma created the universe and he
wanted to see the universe with his own eyes. That's why Lord
Brahma started a journey but he was left disappointed to see the
complete silence and loneliness of everyone on planet Earth.
Lord Brahma then he took some water in his Kamandal and
sprinkled it in air. After that an angel with a harp appeared from a
tree Lord Brahma requested the angel to play something so that
the Earth was not silent. That angel came to be known as Saraswati
or Veena Vadini (harp player).
It was Magh Panchami date according to Hindu shastra when she
originated. After that, the universe got its first voice. Reflecting back
to ancient times, Mahant also told that students at Gurukuls were
taught their first word on this day, the same way students
nowadays learn the alphabet 'A' in their nursery class.

7. Hindu’s Affiliation
The legend associated with the festival says
that after Kalidasa was left by his wife, who
was a beautiful princess, he planned to kill
himself in despair. When he was about to
commit suicide by drowning himself in a
river, Goddess Saraswati emerged from the
same waters and asked him to bathe in it.
When Kalidasa took a dip in the river its
water gave him wisdom and he became a
famous poet, celebrated throughout the
world.

8. Muslim’s Affiliation
Basant Panchmi, the prominent festival of Hindus, was
adopted by Indian Muslim Sufis in the 12th century to mark
the grave of the Muslim Sufi saint dargah of Nizamuddin
Aulia in Delhi and ever since, has been observed by the
Chishti order. Speaking about the significance and history
of the day, Head Malawi, Nizamuddin Dargah told:
"Nizamuddin Aulia went in depression after his son-like
nephew died. Amir Khusrau saw Hindu women dressed
in the yellow ensemble were carrying yellow flowers to
a temple on Basant Panchami. He adopted this practice,
got dressed in yellow, and started singing in order to
bring Nizamuddin Aulia back to his senses.“
"This act of him brought the smile back on Nizamuddin
Aulia's face. Hence to celebrate this day, Basant Panchami
is celebrated by the Muslim religion too," he added.

9. Sikh’s Affiliation
Giani Gurnek Singh, the Granthi of Delhi
Gurudwara, Sri Gurmat Prachar Sabha said,
"Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the
Sikh Empire, encouraged the celebration of
Basant Panchami as a social event. He used to
give 2,000 rupees to the Harmandir Sahib
Gurdwara in Amritsar to distribute food.“
The annual Basant fair was also celebrated
during 1825 CE. "Maharaja Ji would also hold a
darbar on Basant Panchami where soldiers
would dress in yellow and show their military
powers, he added.

10. Southern India Affiliation
In the southern states of India, the festival is celebrated as Sri
Panchami. Yagnas are done in schools and colleges as
students celebrate with great sincerity and fervour.
It is believed that Goddess Saraswati bestows her devotees
with lots of wisdom, learning, and knowledge, as the goddess
is considered to be the epitome of wisdom.
Students and teachers wear new clothes, offer prayers to the
goddess of knowledge, and various programs of song and
dance are organised to please her.
Usually, toddlers start learning from this day in a unique
ceremony named 'Khadi-Chuan'/Vidya-Arambha.

11. Yellow Color’s Affiliation
Associated with yellow colour, the festival of Basant
Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika
and Holi, which occurs nearly 40 days later.
Mahant Vikas Sharma also told the story behind the
importance of colour yellow and said, "Yellow and white
colour are given preference on this day to please
Goddess Saraswati.
Mata Saraswati's favourite colour is yellow and white, in
Hindu shastra, this colour is referred to as 'Gyan Chakra',
the colour of knowledge".

12. Scientific View
Basant Panchami is marked at a time when bright yellow flowers of the ripe mustard
plants dominate rural India. Surprisingly several spring flowers are yellow across the
world including the daffodils.
Above mentioned flowers and shrubs are among the many yellow spring flowers in
India. This is the main reason of yellow being the dominant colour of Basant Panchami
and as the name suggests 'Basant' refers to the spring season.
Marigold or
'genda',
'sheuli' or
night jasmine
Yellow
Hyacinth
Yellow Lilies Forsythia shrubs

13. How do we celebrate ?

14. Celebrations
Women dress up in lovely attires mainly yellow in color, dance
together on the beats of dhol and enjoy fun games together.
Vasant Panchami Celebrations in Punjab and Haryana is
incomplete without kite flying. Kite flying is a popular tradition
observed on this day, particularly in these states.
Kite flying competitions are also organized in different areas. People
gather together, fly colorful kites and enjoy the special delicacies
and sweets prepared at this festival.
Langars are also distributed in most of the Gurudwaras across the
state to celebrate this festival and welcome the spring season.

16. May Goddess Saraswati Bless All
of Us With The Ocean Of
Knowledge Which Never Ends.
Happy Basant Panchami 2021.