Vasant (Basant) Panchami also called as Saraswati Puja, Shree Panchami or the Festival of Kites is held on the fifth day of Magha (in early February) marking the start of spring and the colorful season.
This year Vasant Panchami will be celebrated on 3rd February. Starting from Magh Masa, the advent of Spring is felt in the air as the season undergoes change. New leaves and blossoms appear in the trees with the promise of new life and hope. In Hindu religion, three goddesses namely Ma Laxmi, Ma Kali and Ma Saraswati are considered very important for their role in our prosperity, power, and knowledge. This particular day is meant for worship of Ma Saraswati.
Ma Saraswati is the deity of learning, wisdom, knowledge, fine arts, refinement, science and technology. Panchami is the center number in the counting of one to nine and the number five represents the balance in all the aspects of life. Hindus celebrate Vasant Panchami with great fervor, enthusiasm and festivities in temples, homes and even schools and colleges.
In many parts of India, the festivities of Basant Panchami include kite flying. This Year, Hindu Temple of Grayslake will keep up the age old tradition and has slated its celebrations keeping the focus on young children. A Samohik Puja expected to be participated by 120 to 150 kids and children in the Grayslake area and they will be doing the puja individually with the temple priest chanting Mantras and explaining the significance to them.
Ma Saraswati is worshipped by all the Devas and Asuras along with Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh as she is the creator of new knowledge and skills. Among human beings, from student to teacher, researcher to scientist, consumer to businessman need knowledge to perform their respective roles. In the same manner, Brahma – the creator of the Universe needs her blessings to create new things, Vishnu-the protector to maintain harmony, and Mahesh-the destroyer to maintain the balance of justice.
She is generally shown seated on a white lotus. She rides on a white swan on this day, which is known for its peculiar capability of separating water from the milk. The swan indicates that we should have the ability to discriminate the bad from the good. When the goddess is seen sitting on a peacock, it is a reminder that a desire can suppressed by wisdom. The lotus flower represents rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment. It also resembles the purifying of one’s spirit.
How to celebrate Vasant Panchami
Yellow color is given prominence on this day due to change in nature’s color. So dress up in yellow garments as this color represents spiritual knowledge. Offer yellow flowers and sweets to Ma and distribute among friends and relatives.
Knowledge is essential for everyone irrespective of their age. So place along with children’s your books, pens on the altar at the goddess’s feet for her blessings.
Pray to Ma Saraswati for knowledge and wisdom with her special mantras and Slokas or chant a simple prayer as “Om Saraswatyaya namah, vidyam dehi”
Ask Ma with utmost devotion for her blessings to attain spiritual enlightenment, to acquire peace of mind, to obtain power to suppress ego, to have awareness to differentiate the bad from the good, and to get rid of lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance.
On this occasion do some charities or donations to Brahmans, socio-religious organizations, and also perform Pitra-Tarpan, the traditional ancestral worship.
Make a pledge and remember to honor and offer gifts to teachers, spiritual gurus, elders and grandparents on this day.
Pandit Anil Joshi is Priest of Hindu Mandir of Lake County
Grayslake, IL
Pandit Anil Joshi
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