Basant Panchami, also known as Saraswati Puja, heralds the arrival of spring and is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Saraswati - the Hindu deity of knowledge, wisdom, music, and the arts. Celebrated on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Magha (January-February), the festival literally means "the fifth day of spring" and is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar for starting new educational endeavors, learning musical instruments, or beginning creative pursuits.
The color yellow dominates Basant Panchami celebrations, symbolizing the vibrancy of spring and the ripening mustard fields that paint the Indian landscape golden at this time of year. Devotees wear yellow clothes, prepare yellow sweets (especially kesar halwa and yellow rice), and decorate their homes and temples with yellow flowers like marigolds and mustard blossoms. Goddess Saraswati herself is often depicted wearing a white or yellow saree, seated on a white lotus, holding a veena (musical instrument), a book, a rosary, and a pot of sacred water.
In educational institutions across India, particularly in Eastern and North India, Saraswati Puja is celebrated with great fervor. A beautifully decorated idol of the Goddess is installed, and students perform elaborate puja, offering their books, pens, and musical instruments at her feet. The ritual of Akshar Abhyasam (Vidyarambham) - where young children write their first letters - is traditionally performed on this day. In Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, schools and colleges set up pandals with Saraswati idols, and cultural programs featuring music, dance, and recitation competitions are organized.
Basant Panchami also marks the beginning of preparations for Holi, which falls 40 days later. In Punjab, kite flying is a popular tradition on this day, with the sky filling with colorful kites. The festival also has historical significance - it is believed that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, sanctified this day, and the day is associated with the valor of Hakikat Rai, a young martyr who refused to convert from his faith.
