Basant Panchami 2024: Several Indian states celebrate Basant Panchami, also called Saraswati Puja is a major Hindu event observed with great awe across the country. This celebration, which honours the goddess Saraswati, heralds the joyful arrival of spring. Basant Panchami is mostly celebrated in North India, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. In 2024, it falls on February 14, the Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Magha.
Basant Panchami celebration details
Saraswati Puja rituals
Worshiping Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, music, art, and knowledge, is essential to celebrating Basant Panchami. It is thought that honouring Goddess Saraswati in accordance with custom on this day will lead to a prosperous future. You are fortunate to have advancement and knowledge in your life thanks to her grace.
On this specific day, those who celebrate a Saraswati Puja at home typically get up early, take a shower, and dress in sarees or other items in yellow or white hues. Prior to the pushpanjali, or offerings made to Goddess Saraswati, students frequently fast for a few hours. Bright marigold flowers are used to adorn homes, while rice flour and water paste is used to make alpana (rangoli). The fruits and candies are shared among neighbors and family members following the puja and offerings.
How different state celebrate Basant Panchami:
- Kite Flying: In Northern India, people of all ages take to the skies to celebrate the arrival of spring by flying colourful kites.
- Making delicious Cuisine: Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh celebrate with special traditional foods like Kheer and Kesar Pista that give them extra flavour.
Time and date of celebrating Basant Panchami
On the first day of spring, which falls on the fifth day of the month of Magha according to Hindu Calendar, Hindus celebrate the festival of Basant Panchami. In addition, the celebration signals the beginning of Holi preparations, which begin 40 days after Basant Panchami.
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The Hindu calendar Drik Panchang predicts that February 14, 2024, will be Basant Panchami. The Panchami Tithi is scheduled to begin on February 13, 2024, at 14:41 p.m. and conclude on February 14, 2024, at 12:09 p.m.
The significance of wearing yellow on Basant Panchami
During a season when bright yellow flowers are prevalent in rural India, Basant Panchami is observed. Among the various yellow spring flowers in the nation are marigolds, also known as “genda,” “sheuli,” or night jasmine, yellow lilies, yellow hypacinth, and forsythia bushes. This is the fundamental explanation for why yellow dominates Basant Panchami, which, as the name implies, is associated with spring.