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Basant Panchami is a important festival of Hindus. It is also known as Magh Shukla Panchmi as it falls in the month of Magh(January-February). It is an important bathing day also. The festival means the first day of Spring. Basant Panchmi is a festival full of religious, seasonal and social significance. It is celebrated to worship the Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning. Meaning of Basant Panchmi Basant means Spring, whereas Panchami means the fifth day of the spring. It falls on Panchami - on the Waxing Moon. Importance of festival Sun God is especially worshiped on this day. People take bath in holy river Ganga and worship also Mother Earth. Because Mother Earth provides us the food we need to survive. We express our gratitude to them by worshipping them. Basant Panchami is dedicated to Goddess Sarasvati. Sarasvati is the goddess of learning who gives the all knowledge to universe. On this memorable day, Lord Shiva burnt the god of love, Cupid. The gods had sent Cupid to tempt the Lord while he was absorbed in Samadhi, in order to beget a powerful son who would be able to destroy the wicked demon Tarakasura. Cupid discharged an arrow at Lord Shiva from behind a tree. Shiva became very furious. He opened His third eye and reduced Cupid to ashes. The Celebrations All persons wear Yellow clothes and eat yellow food by using saffron. Yellow colour is a sign of auspiciousness and spirituality. It represents the ripening of the spring crops. Kite flying is a major attraction of the festival in North India especially Punjab. All the folk get together and sing songs connected with spring. It is also called Saraswati Puja. It is celebrated in Bengal. The image of the Goddess is taken in procession and immersed in the holy Ganges. |
Posted By : Vinod Jindal on Jan 09, 2011 |
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