Harnessing the Stars: Navigating Life Transitions with Astrology
As per Hindu mythology, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped as a water deity and is known for her purity and enriching powers. She is a Hindu goddess who represents knowledge, learning, wisdom, and music. She is usually seen seated on a peacock, wearing a white dress in pictures.
She is believed to be the creator and imparter of all forms of knowledge and bestows the power of wisdom, understanding, music, and arts on people. She has four hands which symbolize ego, intellect, alertness and the mind.
Saraswati puja is celebrated on the day of Basant Panchami or Vasant Panchami. It is celebrated by the Hindu religious throughout India with great enthusiasm.
Basant Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Magha, as per the Hindu calendar. The day is considered to mark the arrival of the spring season.
This is how the name for the day came into being. Basant in hind means “spring” whereas Panchami means “fifth”. And hence Basant Panchami falls on the fifth day of the Magha month.
There is a mythological tale associated with this day. It is connected to the poet Kalidasa. He was once married to a beautiful princess through trickery. However, the princess threw him out of the house when she learned that he was foolish.
Unable to bear the sorrow, Kalidasa went to commit suicide. But just then Saraswati emerged from within the waters and told him to take a dip. Once he did so, Kalidasa became knowledgeable and began writing poetry.
Significance of Basant Panchami
Basant Panchami is a special day observed all across the country in the month of January or February. It also comes with the good news that the chilly winter has now come to an end and we need to make way for the spring season.
It is a day which is celebrated with much fanfare in India. It is an extremely important day for farmers in India as well since their fields turn yellow with the blooming of the mustard crops.
There are many significant happenings post the celebration of Basant Panchami. For instance, it also marks the beginning of the preparations for major Hindu festivals, such as Holi, which happens forty days after the Basant Panchami.
When is Basant Panchami/Saraswati Puja in 2020?
The festival of Basant Panchami falls on Wednesday, January 29 this year. As per the Hindu calendar, the day will start at 10:45 am on January 29 and end on January 30 at 1:00 pm.
How is it celebrated?
On the day of Basant Panchami, people wear yellow clothes and worship goddess Saraswati. They also display yellow flowers in their homes.
They also worship Kama deva, the God of love on this day. As per traditions, they also feed Brahmins on this day. However, this is more prevalent in the Southern part of India. There is a method of worshipping your ancestors called Pitr Tarpan, which is also performed on this day.
This is also a day where children are made to write their first words since it is the auspicious day of worshipping the goddess of knowledge. In addition to this, Pushpanjali is offered in order to please Goddess Saraswati.
Since yellow is the color of the day, people also put a paste of neem and turmeric on themselves before taking a bath and getting ready for the puja.
To beautify their houses, people also adorn the threshold of their houses and the puja area with rangolis. They also keep an idol of Lord Ganesh next to the idol of Saraswati in the puja area and seek blessings from both of them. In order to receive their blessings, children keep their books, stationery, musical instruments or any other art element in front of the idols.
To further follow the color of the day, the popular dishes associated with Basant Panchami include, khichdi, labra (mixed vegetables), begun bhaja, sondesh, rajbhog, and paayesh. Kite flying is also a tradition followed on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami in some parts of India.
How to Perform the Puja?
While performing the puja, yellow flowers, kumkum, rice, and bhog are offered to Goddess Saraswati. Before the puja is done, the area of worship is also cleaned properly and decorated with flowers and bel leaves.
Also, while setting up the puja area, you need to set the Saraswati idol on a table or stool on top of a white/yellow cloth. After this, place this arrangement in the center or the main platform of the puja area.
Now, light a diya or incense stick in front of the idols of Ganesh and Saraswati. Then join both your hands and recite the Saraswati puja mantra and Aarti with closed eyes. Once you are done with the puja, distribute the prasad among all the family and friends present.
