India is a country of festivals and rituals. We Indians celebrate the highest number of festivals throughout the year, more than anywhere else in the world. Every festival marks special occasions. Vasant Panchami, a joyous celebration, welcomes the arrival of spring season. It’s one of India’s most cherished festivals, usually falling in January or February.
Keep on reading to know about the date of Vasant Panchami 2024, Shubh muhurat, its Significance, the legends associated, and how to celebrate this festival this year.
Saraswati Puja 2024: Date and Time of Puja and Rituals
Saraswati Pooja, also known as Vasant Panchami, is a festival celebrated in eastern India. Basant Panchami marks the onset of spring in the Hindu calendar, falling on the fifth day of Magha Maas.
Vasant Panchami 2024 Date:
This year, mark your calendar for February 14, 2024, Wednesday, to celebrate the Saraswati festival on Basant Panchami.
Saraswati Puja 2024 Shubh muhurat:
Vasant Panchami Muhurat – 07:01 AM to 12:35 PM
Duration – 05 Hours 35 Mins
Vasant Panchami Madhyanha Moment – 12:35 PM
Panchami Tithi Begins – 02:41 PM on Feb 13, 2024
Panchami Tithi Ends – 12:09 PM on Feb 14, 2024
Vasant Panchami 2024: Significance
As per Hindu beliefs, Maa Saraswati the deity of learning, music, and art was born on this day, and thus to achieve wisdom and art from her people celebrate Vasant Panchami as Saraswati Pooja. People start new businesses or work, get married, or commence whatever is new on this auspicious day.
Yellow Color: Symbol of Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami symbolizes the color yellow, which is the Goddess Saraswati’s favorite color. Thus, those who worship Maa Saraswati dress in yellow on this day. Additionally, yellow denotes the time of year when mustard crops are harvested. Traditional dishes are prepared and distributed amongst all people to celebrate ‘Basant’. In Indian culture, Yellow color has special significance and it is known as a color of prosperity, energy, and happiness. It makes everyone feel positive. To wholeheartedly celebrate Basant Panchami, food with a yellow hue and traditional yellow attire is prepared.
Saraswati Puja 2024: Why Significant for Educational Institutions?
Saraswati Puja is observed by many educational institutions because we believe that Maa Saraswati bestows talent, wisdom, and ability. Schools and universities commemorate Maa Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, with great enthusiasm. Hindu Sacred texts mention that poets like Kalidas and sages like Valmiki achieve prosperity through Saraswati’s worship. Sincere Hindus perform this rite to seek her blessings. Together, educators and students lead singing, dancing, and other activities in addition to offering prayers. As this day is devoted to honoring books, it is thought that one needs to refrain from touching books or studying.
Most Popular Legends Associated with Saraswati Puja
As there are many legends associated with vasant panchami in different ages but the Most popular legend goes like this.
Vasant Panchami: Born Date of Maa Saraswati
According to a story from Hindu scriptures, on the day of Vasant Panchami, the beginning of life on earth took place. Once, Lord Brahma was very happy when he created this beautiful world with his hand. So, he thought of going on a journey to see his creation of the whole world. After taking rounds around the whole world, He was very disappointed with complete loneliness and silence.
Every living being in the world appeared very lonely and silent. Lord Brahma went into deep thought to His creation and came up with a beautiful idea. Immediately, He sprinkled some water from His Kamandal and a goddess appeared from a nearby tree. The goddess was holding a Veena (string musical instrument) in her hand. Lord Brahma was happy to see the goddess and requested her to play some music and sing some hymns for everyone on Earth.
Therefore, the goddess started playing some music and blessed the living beings of the Earth with the new sounds and vibrations of music, voice, love, happiness, and enthusiasm. Since then, that goddess has been popularly known by the name Goddess Saraswati as well as Veena Vadini (harp player) and Hans Wahini as she was sitting on hans(swan). We all started celebrating this special day of Basant Panchami as the birthday of Goddess Saraswati.
Vasant Panchami legend associated with Lord Shiva:
Another legend associated with vasant panchami is also very popular among the Hindu population.
Lord Shiva was once said to be in deep penance. Tarakasura had received a boon stating that only Shiva’s son could end his life. He began spreading devastation all across the earth, driven by the fact that Shiva had become an ascetic focused in deep meditation for a long time and was unlikely to marry again since Sati’s burning herself to death. Meanwhile, Sati ( Shiva’s first wife) had been reincarnated as Parvati. Parvati had performed a hard penance to attain Lord Shiva.
However, Shiva remained unchanged. Parvati then assigned Kama Deva (the deity of love) to awaken Shiva from his meditation. On Basant Panchami day, Kama Deva confronted Shiva and built a delusional spring in Kailash to entice the Lord and bring him out of penance. Shiva eventually awakens but has reduced Kama Deva to ashes. He subsequently accepted Parvati as his spouse. Lord Kartikeya, Shiva and Parvati’s son, annihilated Tarakasura.
Vasant Panchami 2024: Legend Associated With Lord Rama
According to another legend, Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, when he was in the jungle for 14 years after Kekayi demanded this wish from King Dashrath. Then, Lord Rama went to the kutiya of Mata Sabari and there he ate half-tasted grapes and berries of Mata Sabari. So, to remember this holy day, we celebrate the festival of Vasant Panchami.
Method of Worshiping on Vasant Panchami Puja
- On this auspicious day, devotees wake up early and take a holy bath.
- Clean your temple along with the house. Then install the idol of Goddess Saraswati.
- Apply kumkum tilak. Put a big garland of yellow flowers to the Goddess Saraswati.
- Offer fruits and sweets to Goddess Saraswati. Chant Saraswati mantras.
- Perform the Aarti of Mother Saraswati with devotion. Blow the conch shell at the end.
- Offer a pen and a book to the Goddess of Knowledge and later take it as Prasad.
- Break your fast by eating Vrati Prasad.
Key Takeaways
Vasant Panchami is an ancient Hindu celebration that welcomes the arrival of the spring season as well as the start of many other auspicious occasions. The day holds significant significance in Indian culture. Indians commemorate this auspicious day as the birthday of Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, wisdom, knowledge, and speech. The color yellow is the theme for Basant Panchami. On this holy day, devotees wear yellow-colored dresses and offer yellow flowers to worship Mother Saraswati. Happy Basant Panchami 2024!
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