Basant Panchami, also known as Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja, is a Hindu festival that celebrates Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, music, and wisdom. The festival also marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring (Vasant), which people regard as the king of all seasons. This day symbolizes renewal, fresh beginnings, and the abundance of nature. Many people also fly kites on this occasion.

During this time, mustard fields bloom with bright yellow flowers. The colour yellow represents knowledge, light, energy, prosperity, and peace. Basant Panchami falls on the fifth day of the Hindu lunar month of Magha (January–February).

BASANT PANCHAMI

The word “Basant” means spring, and “Panchami” means the fifth day (Panchami of Shukla Paksha in the month of Magh).

According to an ancient Hindu legend, Vasant Panchami marks the beginning of life on Earth. After creating the universe, Lord Brahma felt pleased and travelled across the world to observe his creation. However, he noticed silence everywhere, and living beings appeared lonely and joyless. After deep reflection, Lord Brahma found a divine solution. He sprinkled sacred water from his kamandal, and a celestial figure emerged from a nearby tree holding a veena. At Brahma’s request, she began to sing and play melodious music. Her music filled the world with sound, rhythm, joy, love, and creative energy, bringing life and vibrancy to Earth. People later revered this divine figure as Goddess Saraswati, also known as Veena Vadini, the goddess of wisdom and arts. Since then, devotees have celebrated Vasant Panchami as the birth day of Goddess Saraswati.

Goddess Saraswati holds a veena in her hands, which symbolizes purity, harmony, and knowledge.

People celebrate Saraswati Puja with great enthusiasm in West Bengal, Odisha, and several North Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.

Wearing yellow-coloured clothes remains one of the main and most distinctive features of this festival.(Basant Panchmi)

READ: Vasant Panchami – Origin and Significance of Vasant Panchami festival (pujayagna.com)