STORY OF VASANT PANCHAMI OR BASANT PANCHAMI

                   VASANT PANCHAMI 

According to the Hindu culture, Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami is celebrated as the harbinger of the spring season, Also Known as Saraswati pooja. This Festival is celebrated every year and people Worship Goddess Saraswati to get Knowledge and enlightenment. This is celebrated in India on the Fifth day(Also called Panchami Tithi) of the Hindu month of Magha, Shukla paksha which is especially devoted to Goddess Saraswati. This day traditionally falls on 16th of February. 

As per the Hindu beliefs, it is believed that on this day Goddess Saraswati was born, Goddess of Knowledge and Arts. This is marked as the time when the mustard plants are dominated in the fields of Punjab and Harayana and also the yellow colour is considered to be of a great significance on this day.

It is the favourite colour of Goddess Saraswati. Hence people welcome the Festival of Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami wearing Yellow clothes. Another reason for this is that at this festival the sun is uttarayan (When the sun travels from south to north) and these bright yellow rays of the sun symbolize that everyone should become sharp like the sun. The idol of Goddess Saraswati is decorated with yellow clothes and beautiful ornaments, this day must be uniquely/solely dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.

Vasant Panchami is also known as Saraswati Panchami when children are encouraged to write their first word in front of Goddess Saraswati's idol to seek blessings and this is also known as Akshar-Abhyasam.

According to the Hindu Mythology, Lord Vishnu(God who protects the earth and sustains Life on it)had asked Lord Brahma to create the universe, where Lord Brahma produced various forms of life with human beings and beautiful species. 

Once the universe was created Lord Brahma was galvanized by his creation so he decided to once travel the universe,but was not happy seeing lack of speech(complete silence). Lord Brahma then took some water in a Kamandal (STOUP) and aspersed(Sprinkle) it in air. A deity appeared from  a tree with a Harp in her hand and was then requested to play something, the deity was grateful to bless the earth with her beautiful voice, filling the whole planet with music, from then she came to be known as Goddess Saraswati or the Veena vadini (Playing the veena).

Goddess is depicted as a White saree, clad woman seated on a White Lotus holding a veena. Goddess is generally shown with having four arms holding a Book, a Water Pot, a Rosary and a musical instrument Veena, each symbolizing a traditional meaning in Hinduism. White swan or the Hamsa is the Vahan or the Mount of Goddess Saraswati. The word Saraswati is derived from two words "Saras" meaning Flow in Water bodies and 'Wati' meaning possessor.

Goddess Saraswati is representation of the everlasting flow of Knowledge. The Hansa or the swan, The Vahan of Goddess Saraswati possess an incredible power of discrimination between the real and unreal. According to the Hindu scriptures, Goddess Saraswati is also part of the Tridevi of Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Parvati. Goddess Saraswati is also Known as Sharada, Sharadamba, Bagdevi and Chaduvula. Goddess of Knowledge, Arts, Music and Cultural fulfilment symbolises Universal intelligence and Knowledge.