What is Basant Panchami? | What is the meaning of Vasant/Basant Panchami?
Vasant refers to the 'King of all seasons', spring (late January-February), and Panchami refers to the fifth day (Panch meaning ‘five’) of the fortnight per Hindu calendar.On the fifth day of spring, people celebrate Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami which is also known as Saraswati Panchami and celebrated by Hindus with great fervor.
Basant Panchami Saraswati Puja
Saraswati Puja falls on Vasant Panchami itself and is the day when Goddess Saraswati is worshipped. She is known for knowledge, learning, and music and all the students and their parents pray to the Goddess on this auspicious day.
When is Vasant Panchami in 2024? | Basant Panchami Date, Time & Tithi
Vasant Panchami on Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Vasant Panchami Muhurat
- 06:41 AM to 12:36 PM
Duration
- 05 Hours 55 Mins
Vasant Panchami Madhyahna Moment
- 12:36 PM
Panchami Tithi Begins
- 02:41 PM on Feb 13, 2024
Panchami Tithi Ends
- 12:09 PM on Feb 14, 2024
Why We Celebrate Basant Panchami?
Let us understand what Vasant Panchami is. It is a celebration to welcome the advent of the colourful season of spring and is also a Vedic festival that honors the divinity of Goddess Saraswati who personifies vidya (learning and knowledge) and dispels tamas (ignorance).
When is Saraswati Puja & importance of doing it
The Saraswati Puja 2024 date is the same as the Basant Panchami date.
Popular And Effective Vasant Panchami Products
Shri Saraswati Yantra - Gold
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Shri Saraswati Yantra made in pure copper with a 24K gold finish is a powerful Yantra to seek the blessings of Maa Saraswati. Being the Goddess of knowledge, the Shri Saraswati Yantra is ideal for students, knowledge seekers, art professionals, and music learners as well. The Yantra is perfectly inscribed on a thick copper sheet and it can be placed in your puja altar or at the office. It is available in various holding options like a wooden stand and frame for your convenience.
Saraswati Yantra - Pocket Size
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Saraswati Yantra in pocket-size features Saraswati Yantra on one side and Goddess Saraswati’s image on the other side. The high-quality copper plate is durable and the neatly etched diagram of the Yantra makes it effective. This pocket-size Yantra is very convenient to carry in your wallet, purse, or pocket. Chanting the provided Mantras enhances its power and it is ideal for knowledge seekers and students as Maa Saraswati is worshipped for knowledge, intelligence, wisdom, creativity, and concentration.
Saraswati on Lotus
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Saraswati on lotus idol made in heavy shining brass is an ideal deity idol to be placed during Saraswati Puja and your puja altar as well. This beautifully carved idol features the Goddess seated on a lotus with a Veena in her hands. The swan at the base is Maa Saraswati’s vehicle and the rosary and book in Her rear hands symbolize spirituality and knowledge. This amazing idol is also available in an antique finish and looks even more stunning.
Goddess Saraswati Photo - Large
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Glittering photo of Maa Saraswati made with high-quality material. The beautiful picture depicts Goddess Saraswati seated on a lotus with a Veena (musical instrument). Clad in white saree, the Goddess is portrayed in her divine form and this photo can be used while performing Saraswati Puja. It can also be placed on your puja altar or hung on a wall. This photo is available in two different frame options for you to choose the one that suits your preferences.
What Is The Signifiance & Importance Of Vasant Panchami?
The answer to this often asked question is that on Vasant Panchami or Basant Panchami Goddess Saraswati is worshipped, therefore this day is also known as Saraswati Panchami or Saraswati puja. This day we pray to Goddess Saraswati to bestow Her blessings on us. It is considered an important and auspicious day to start anything new like people choose to keep their Griha Pravesh (house warming ceremony) on this day.
‘Saraswati’ is made of Sāra referring to ‘essence’ and Sva refers to ‘self’ as in Swavalambi (self-reliant). It means the essence of one’s self and self-realization. Goddess Saraswati is a symbol of purity. She is described in the Rig Veda (2.41.16) as the best of divine mothers अम्बितमे नदीतमे देवितमे सरस्वति | ambitame naditame devitame sarasvati; “O best of divine mothers, we stand insignificant in front of You. O Mother, please bless us!” In the Vedic stuti dedicated to Saraswati, it is said that she is pure white like the flower Jasmine, sitting on the divine pure white lotus that attracts the Gods of Swargaloka, Siddhaloka, Bhuloka, and planets. She is even worshipped and honored by the Tridevas (Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha ).
What To Do On Basant Panchami?
On this day, Basant Panchami Saraswati Puja is celebrated by worshipping Devi Saraswati. One who worships Goddess Saraswati wholeheartedly attains Her quality of being self-realized, devoid of tamas (ignorance). Goddess Saraswati is given a special position in the Vedas. She is the goddess of gyaan (knowledge), kala (arts), pragna (wisdom), and Shiksha or vidya (learning) and speech. Students, teachers, artists, scholars, musicians, singers, people seeking higher education or knowledge, and everyone connected to the creative or artistic field dedicatedly worship Goddess Saraswati on this day to be blessed by Her.
Story / History of Basant Panchami
The history of the Basant Panchami festival says that Lord Brahma created Goddess Saraswati to help him create the Universe and its celestial bodies. Another legend says that Goddess Parvati requested Kamdev to shoot His arrow of love on Lord Shiva to break His Yogic meditation. Kamdev obliged and on this day, Lord Shiva's meditation was broken to come back into normalcy and the material world.
How Is Vasant Panchami Celebrated?
Vasant Panchami is celebrated in different regions of India in various ways. In Punjab it is celebrated as a Kite Festival, it is a harvest festival in Bihar, the North-Eastern states of India, in Orissa and West Bengal it is celebrated as Saraswati Puja, In the South of India, it is a festival where devotees go to the temples to worship the Goddess. It is a tradition in many places in India for women to swing on colorful swings tied to trees, singing traditional folk songs. In Rajasthan, people wear garlands of the pale yellow Jasmine flowers to mark the Basant Panchami celebration.
The color Yellow is significant on this day, as it is believed that Goddess Saraswati favors this color and at this time, the Mustard crop ripens to flower into fields full of yellow flowers. So, Yellow color is predominant in Basant Panchami celebration and people wear Yellow color clothes on this beautiful festival. Devi Saraswati idols are adorned with Yellow sari in many places while worshipping.
Educational Institutes of all kinds, be it schools or institutes of learning music or any art form specially worship Goddess Saraswati with sincere prayers. Basant Panchami special music, dance, drama, recitation of poems, and other cultural activities are organized by students to display their talents and show their reverence to the Goddess. In some parts of India like West Bengal, Saraswati idols are brought at home too and worshipped with joy. Not only Hindus but also Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists worship Goddess Saraswati.
Vasant Panchami is an auspicious day for marriage/weddings as it is considered to be the day when Lord Rama and Sita Maa got married, so Vasant Panchami 2024 for marriage is a very suitable and blessed day.
How To Do Saraswati Puja On Vasant Panchami?
Saraswati Puja on Vasant Panchami is highly auspicious. Most people worship Devi Saraswati idols made of clay on this day which are immersed in water the next day. The devotees take a bath in the morning and it is said that having a bath with Mustard oil and Haldi (turmeric) pack pleases Goddess Saraswati. After which the idol is seated on an elevated platform. The idols are adorned with yellow or white Sari and yellow and white flower garlands. The puja is mostly done by the Pandit and devotees follow his instructions and repeat mantras after him.
Here is how to do Saraswati Puja at home:
- The ' Puja Kalash ' is established in front of Goddess Saraswati’s idol. After invoking Lord Ganesh as per rituals, the puja vidhi starts.
- The Saraswati Puja mantra and aarti are recited by joining hands with devotion.
- Yellow and white flowers are offered in 'pushpanjali' along with the chanting of mantras.
- Then Chandan, Akshata, Pushpa, Dhoop, Deep, and Naivedhya are offered with Vedic mantra chanting. Sweets and fruit, especially Yellow color are offered to please the Goddess. Many offer Kheer (Indian sweets) which is later distributed along with edible offerings as prasad / prasadam among everyone present.
- The Ber fruit (Jujube) is offered to Goddess Saraswati in West Bengal as it is said to be one of Her favorite fruits. In fact, people and especially students refrain from eating Ber beforeSaraswati Puja.
- Devotional songs are sung and last but not least, devotees bow down in front of the idol for blessings and silently put forward their wishes to Saraswati.
Another interesting ritual is that the students stack their books, pens/pencils, keep their musical instruments near the idol of Goddess for it to be blessed by Her, and refrain from studying that day. In India, the final exams in schools and colleges mostly fall within a few days after the Saraswati Puja festival so students and parents pray sincerely for success in exams.
On this day in some parts of India, toddlers are initiated to learning in a unique ceremony where they write their first syllable in front of the idol of the Goddess Saraswati. It signifies that the child is now ready to embark on his educational journey.
Homas and Yagnas are done in Schools and Colleges in some states of India.
Basant Panchami Mantra
- THIS MANTRA IS CHANTED AT THE END OF THE PUJA WHEN BOWING DOWN:
Namodevyai Mahadevyai Shivayai Satatam Namah।
Namah Prakrityai Bhadrayai Niyatah Pranatah Smatam॥
Tamagnivarnam Tapasajvalantim Vairochanim Karmaphaleshu Jushtam।
Durgam Devim Sharanamaham Prapadye Sutarasi Tarase Namah॥
Devi Vachamanajanayanta Devastam Vishvarupah Pashvo Vadanti।
Sa No Mandreshamurjam Duhana Dhenurvagasmanupa Sushtutaitu॥
Kalaratrim Brahmastutam Vaishnavim Skandamataram।
Saraswatimaditim Dakshaduhitaram Namamah Pavanam Shivam॥
- THE MANTRA WHICH CAN BE CHANTED DURING BASANT PANCHAMI SARASWATI PUJA TO GARNER THE BLESSINGS OF DEVI SARASWATI:
॥ Om Aim Hrim Kleem Maha Saraswati Devaya Namaha ॥
- STUDENTS WHO WANT TO MAKE LEARNING EASY AND ENJOYABLE CAN CHANT THIS MANTRA ON BASANT PANCHAMI
॥ Om Aim Hrim Kleem Maha Saraswati Devaya Namaha ॥
- SARASWATI PUJA PUSHPANJALI MANTRA
Om Bhadro Kallyoi Namo Nityang
Saraswatyoi Namo Namah
Veda Vedanta Vedanga
Bidyasthanebhaya
Ebacho Esso Swachandana
Billyopatro Pushpanjali
Om Oing Shree Shree Saraswatoyi Namoh
Rudra Centre Puja Services Performed Goddess Tripurasundari Maha Puja
Rudra Centre Puja Services performed Goddess Tripurasundari Maha Puja on the auspicious occasion of Tripura Sundari Jayanti.
Sakhashree Neeta and her son Divij took Sankalpa on behalf of clients.
On this day, Goddess Tripurasundari is worshipped for beauty, wealth, pleasures, debt relief, harmony between couples and growth.
Prayers were offered to Ram Parivar, Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Goddess Laxmi, Durga & Navgraha for Health, Wealth, Peace, Prosperity & Protection for oneself, family and the world.
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