Vasant Panchami

Contributed by Acharya Satyam Sharma Shastri
Montagne-Blanche Village, Mauritius

~ Vasant Panchami is a festival full of religious, seasonal andsocial significance and is celebrated by Hindus all over the world withverve and new sense of optimism.~

Vasant Panchami is the festival dedicated to Saraswati, the goddessof learning. (Deepavali is dedicated to Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, andNavaratri Durga is dedicated primarily to Kali, goddess of strength,might and power.)

Magh Sud 5 (5^th day of the bright fortnight ofthe lunar month of Magh) is the day of Vasant Panchami. Hindus all overthe world celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm. This Panchamiis also known as Saraswati Day. It is believed that this day isSaraswati's birthday. Hindu temples are full of activities on this day.

Yellow colour is given special importance on this day. On VasantPanchami, Saraswati is dressed in yellow garments and worshipped (withPuja, Havan etc.). Men and women try to wear yellow clothes on thisday. Sweetmeats of yellowish hues are exchanged with relations andfriends

Some people feed Brahmanas on this day. Pitri-Tarpan (ancestorworship) is done on this day. The god of love (Kamdev) is alsoworshipped on this day.

Children are taught their first words on this day (as an auspiciousbeginning to learning). Schools, colleges etc., (places of learning)organise special worship of Saraswati. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya laidthe foundations of Kashi Hindu Vishwa Vidyalaya on Vasant Panchami.This has become a world famous top class academic institution.

Hinduism has taken into account special significance of seasons andinterwoven that with religious festivals e.g., Makar Sakranti, VasantPanchami. People generally feel inclined to worship the presiding deityof the family (Ishta Devata or Devi) according to the individual'sfaith and desires. Also, people generally tend to accumulate wealth andpower. During the Kali Yuga (present age), the pursuit of money(wealth, power, name and fame) is everything to most people. Money isaccorded god-like status.

But men of principle (men who can discriminate) worship goddessSaraswati for spiritual enlightenment. In their opinion, there can beno comparison between the king and the learned (spiritually advanced).The king is honoured within his kingdom, whereas the learned isrespected (or worshipped) everywhere. Saintly people and peopleinclined towards spiritual progress attach great importance to theworship of goddess Saraswati.

The vehicle assigned to each of the three goddesses alsosymbolically represent their special powers. The white swan ofSaraswati is symbolising Sattwa Guna (purity and discrimination). Theowl of Lakshmi and the lion or tiger of Durga symbolise the other twogunas (Rajas and Tamas).

The first faint signals of the forthcoming festival of Holi manifestat Vasant Panchami. Seasons undergo change. The coming of springtime isheralded. Trees are displaying new shoots. New life is evident in thewoods and fields. Nature decorates Mango trees with new blossoms. Wheatand other crops enliven with evidence of new life.

Vasant Panchami is a festival full of religious, seasonal and socialsignificance and is celebrated by Hindus all over the world with verveand new sense of optimism.