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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Vasant Panchami
|image = Mustard Fields.jpg
|caption = Vasant Panchami welcomes spring, people dress in yellow to mark flowering [[Mustard plant|mustard]] fields
|official_name = Basant Panchami<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.india.gov.in/calendar?date=2020-01|title = National Portal of India}}</ref>
|nickname = Vasant Panchami, Saraswati Puja
|observedby = Hindus, Sikhs and Jains in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Java and Bali (Indonesia)<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p741"/>
|longtype = cultural
|significance = Spring, harvest, goddess Saraswati<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p741"/>
|date2022 = 5 February (Saturday)
|date2023 = 25 January (Wednesday)
|celebrations = Worship of goddess Saraswati<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p741"/><ref name= Nikky87/>
|type=|date=}}
{{Saktism}}
{{Hinduism}}

'''Vasant Panchami''', also called '''Sarasvati Puja''' in honor of the goddess [[Saraswati]], is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of [[Spring (season)|spring]]. The festival is celebrated by people in the [[Indian subcontinent]] in various ways depending on the region. Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for [[Holika Dahan|Holika]] and [[Holi]], which take place forty days later.<ref name=" Roy2005p192"/> The Vasant Utsava (festival) on [[Panchami]] is celebrated forty days before spring, because any season's transition period is 40 days, and after that, the season comes into full bloom.

==Nomenclature and date==
Vasant Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the Hindu [[lunisolar calendar]] month of [[Magha (month)|Magha]], which typically falls in late January or February. Spring is known as the "King of all Seasons", so the festival commences forty days in advance. It is generally [[winter]]-like in [[North India|northern India]], and more spring-like in central and western parts of India on Vasant Panchami, which gives credence to the idea that spring is actually in full bloom 40 days after the Vasant Panchami day.<ref name="Lall1933p27">{{cite book|author=R. Manohar Lall|title=Among the Hindus: A Study of Hindu Festivals|url=https://knowthefacts1.blogspot.com/2020/01/vasant-panchami-2020.html|year=1933|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-1822-0|pages=27–33}}</ref>

The festival is particularly observed by Hindus in the Indian subcontinent, notably India and Nepal. It has been a historical tradition of Sikhs as well.<ref name="Melton2011p902">{{cite book|author=J. Gordon Melton|title=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lD_2J7W_2hQC&pg=PA902 |year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-206-7|pages=902–903}}</ref><ref name="Roy2005p192">{{cite book|author=Christian Roy|title=Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IKqOUfqt4cIC&pg=PA192 |year=2005|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-089-5|pages=192–193}}</ref> In southern states, the same day is called ''Sri Panchami''.<ref name="Lall1933p27"/>

On the island of [[Bali]] and the [[Hinduism in Indonesia|Hindus]] of Indonesia, it is known as "''Hari Raya Saraswati''" (great day of Saraswati). It also marks the beginning of the 210-day long Balinese [[Pawukon]] calendar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://knowthefacts1.blogspot.com/2020/01/vasant-panchami-2020.html |title=Bali Cultural Ceremony and Ritual |publisher=Balispirit.com |access-date=2017-10-08}}</ref>

==Hinduism==
[[File:Goddess Saraswati dressed in yellow sari for Vasant Panchami Festival, Kolkata.jpg|thumb|left|Goddess Saraswati dressed in a yellow sari on Vasant Panchami, Kolkata. She sits in a swing, holding a [[Veena]], with books in one corner.]]

===Saraswati Puja ===
Vasant Panchami is a festival that marks the beginning of preparations for spring season. It is celebrated by people in various ways depending on the region. Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which occur forty days later. For many Hindus, Vasant Panchami is the festival dedicated to goddess [[Saraswati]] who is their goddess of knowledge, language, music and all arts.<ref name="Melton2011p902"/> She symbolizes creative energy and power in all its form, including longing and love. The season and festival also celebrate the agricultural fields' ripening with yellow flowers of mustard crop, which Hindus associate with Saraswati's favorite color. People dress in yellow saris or shirts or accessories, share yellow-colored snacks and sweets. Some add saffron to their rice and then eat yellow cooked rice as a part of an elaborate feast.<ref name="Melton2011p902"/>

Many families mark this day by sitting with babies and young children, encouraging their children to write their first words with their fingers, and some study or create music together.<ref name="Melton2011p902"/><ref name="Lall1933p27"/><ref name=roy/> The day before Vasant Panchami, Saraswati's temples are filled with food so that she can join the celebrants in the traditional feasting the following morning.<ref name=roy/> In temples and educational institutions, statues of Saraswati are dressed in yellow and worshiped.<ref name=roy/> Many [[educational institution]]s arrange special prayers or pujas in the morning to seek the blessing of the goddess. Poetic and musical gatherings are held in some communities in reverence for Saraswati.<ref name=vema/>

In [[Nepal]], [[Bihar]] and [[Northeast India|eastern states of India]] such as [[West Bengal]] including north-eastern states like [[Tripura]] and [[Assam]], people visit her temples and worship her (Saraswati Puja). Most of the schools arrange special Saraswati puja for their students on their premises. In [[Bangladesh]], all major educational institutes and universities observe it with a holiday and a special puja.

In the state of [[Odisha]], the festival is celebrated as Basanta Panchami/Sri Panchami /Saraswati Puja. [[Homa (ritual)|Homas]] and [[Yajna|Yagnas]] are done in schools and colleges across the state. Students celebrate Saraswati puja with great sincerity and fervor. Usually, children four and five years old start learning on this day in a unique ceremony named 'Khadi-Chuan' or 'Vidya-Arambha'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://templesinindiainfo.com/2022-vidyarambham-pooja-date-and-puja-timings/|title = 2022 Vidyarambham Pooja Date and Puja Timings|date = 9 November 2017}}</ref>

In southern states such as [[Andhra Pradesh]], the same day is called ''Sri Panchami'' where "Sri" refers to her as another aspect of the one goddess [[Devi]].<ref name=vema/><ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RYUaBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA20 Festivals of India], Swami Mukundananda (2015)</ref><ref name="Lall1933p27"/>

===Other deities ===
[[File:Kama sur le temple de Parshvanath (Khajuraho) (8638392628).jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Vasant Panchami, in some places, celebrates the Hindu god of love Kama (left) with Rati, shown above at the [[Khajuraho]] temple.]]
Another legend behind Vasant Panchami is based on the Hindu god of love called [[Kamadeva|Kama]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Banabhatta's Kadambari {{!}} Latest News & Updates at DNAIndia.com|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/photo-gallery-vasant-panchami-2020-9-lesser-known-facts-about-vasantotsava-2810985/banabhatta-s-kadambari-2810991|access-date=2021-02-13|website=DNA India}}</ref> [[Pradyumna]] is Kamadev personified in Krishna's Book. Thus Vasant Panchami is also known as "Madana Panchami". Pradyumna is the son of [[Rukmini]] and [[Krishna]]. He awakens the passions of the earth (and its people) and thus the world blooms anew.

It is remembered as the day when the Seers (Rishis) approached Kama to wake up Shiva from his [[Yoga|Yogic]] meditation. They support [[Parvati]] who is doing a penance to get [[Shiva]] as husband, and seek Kama's help to bring Shiva back from his meditation to worldly desires. Kama agrees and shoots arrows, made of flowers and bees, at Shiva from his heavenly bow of sugarcane in order to arouse him to pay attention to Parvati. Lord Shiva awakens from his meditation. When his third eye opens, a fireball is directed to Kama. Kama the Lord of desires is burnt to ashes. This initiative is celebrated by Hindus as Vasant Panchami.<ref name="Melton2011p902" />

Vasant Panchami is associated with the emotions of love and emotional anticipation in Kutch (Gujarat), and celebrated by preparing bouquet and garlands of flowers set with mango leaves, as a gift. People dress in saffron, pink or yellow and visit each other. Songs about Krishna's pranks with Radha, considered to mirror Kama-Rati, are sung.<ref name="dilipsinh">Dilipsinh, K. S. (2004) "Ch.8 - The Festival of Spring" from ''Kutch: In Festival And Custom''. Har-Anand Publications. p. 98. {{ISBN|9788124109984}}</ref> This is symbolized with the Hindu deity [[Kamadeva]] with his wife [[Rati]].<ref name="vema">Vema, Manish. ''Fast and Festivals of India''. Diamond Pocket Books. p.72. 2000. {{ISBN|9788171820764}}</ref><ref name="roy">Roy, Christian. ''Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia''. ABC-CLIO. Vol.2. pp. 192-195. 2005. {{ISBN|9781576070895}}</ref>

Traditionally, in [[Maharashtra]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Chhattisgarh]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]], after bathing in the morning, people worship [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]]. Offerings of mango flowers and the ears of wheat are traditionally made.<ref name="Lall1933">{{cite book|author=R. Manohar Lall|title=Among the Hindus: A Study of Hindu Festivals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YlqH4Q_gqCQC&pg=PA27|year=1933|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=978-81-206-1822-0|pages=27–29}}</ref>

===Deo temple: Sun God===
The shrine of the Sun God in [[Aurangabad district, Bihar]] known as the Deo-Sun Shrine, was established on Basant Panchami. The day is celebrated to commemorate the founding of the shrine by King Aila of [[Allahabad]] and the birthday of the Sun-Deo God. The statues are washed and old red clothes on them are replaced with new ones on Basant Panchami. Devotees sing, dance and play musical instruments.<ref name="SaranPandey1992">{{cite book|author1=Anirudha Behari Saran|author2=Gaya Pandey|title=Sun Worship in India: A Study of Deo Sun-Shrine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8XimO39s7_gC&q=basant+panchami|year=1992|publisher=Northern Book Centre|isbn=978-81-7211-030-7|page=68}}</ref>

===Other===
[[File:A kite flying at Basant Panchami festival 2.jpg|left|thumb|A kite flying at Basant Panchami event. At least since the 19th century, kite flying on Basant has been a popular event in north India well as in the region around Lahore, Pakistan. Kite flying is also traditional in west India on [[Uttarayan]], in [[Mathura]] on [[Vishvakarman|Viskwakarma Puja]] and in south India.<ref name="Desai2010p32">{{cite book|author=Nikita Desai|title=A Different Freedom: Kite Flying in Western India; Culture and Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VsaBwAAQBAJ|year=2010|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1-4438-2310-4|pages=32–34, 60, 99–100, 151}}</ref>]]

People celebrate the day by wearing yellow (white), eating sweet dishes and displaying yellow flowers in homes. In [[Rajasthan]], it is customary for people to wear jasmine garlands.<ref name="books.google.co.uk">[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UMAjAQAAIAAJ&dq=vasant+panchami+rajasthan ''Journal of the Indian Anthropological Society'', Volume 30 (1995)]</ref> In [[Maharashtra]], newly married couples visit a temple and offer prayers on the first Basant Panchami after the wedding. wearing yellow dresses. In the Punjab region, Sikhs and Hindus wear yellow turban or headdress. In [[Uttarakhand]], in addition to Saraswati Puja, people worship Shiva, Parvati as the mother earth and the crops or agriculture. People eat yellow rice and wear yellow. It is also a significant school supplies shopping and related gift-giving season.<ref name="Lall1933p27"/>

In the [[Punjab region]], Basant is celebrated as a seasonal festival by all faiths and is known as the [[Basant Kite Festival (Punjab)|Basant Festival]] of Kites. Children buy ''dor'' (thread) and ''guddi'' or ''patang'' (kites) for the sport. The people of the Punjab wear yellow clothes and eat yellow rice to emulate the yellow mustard (''sarson'') flower fields, or play by [[Basant Kite Festival (Punjab)|flying kites]].<ref name= Nikky87/><ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/what-is-vasant-panchami-1654596 "Basant Panchami 2017: All You Need To Know Of The Spring Festival And Saraswati Puja"], NDTV ;(February 1, 2017)</ref><ref name="Lall1933p27"/> According to Desai (2010), the tradition of flying kites on various festivals is also found in northern and western Indian states: Hindus in Rajasthan and especially in Gujarat associate kite flying with the period prior to [[Uttarayan]]; in [[Mathura]] ([[Uttar Pradesh]]), kites are flown on Dussehra; in [[Bengal]] kite flying takes place on [[Vishvakarman|Viskwakarma Puja]] in September. The sport is also found in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and parts of south India.<ref name="Desai2010p32"/>

On [[Bali]] and among [[Hinduism in Indonesia|Indonesian Hindus]], Hari Raya Saraswati (the festival's local name) is celebrated with prayers in family compounds, educational institutions, and public venues from morning to noon. Teachers and students wear brightly coloured clothes instead of their usual uniforms, and children bring traditional cakes and fruit to school for offerings in a temple.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balispirit.com/events/bali_ceremony_ritual.html |title=Bali Cultural Ceremony and Ritual |publisher=Balispirit.com |access-date=2017-10-08}}</ref>

==Sikhism==
[[Namdhari]] Sikhs have historically celebrated Basant Panchami to mark the beginning of spring.<ref name="Rait2005">{{cite book|author=Satwant Kaur Rait|title=Sikh Women in England: Their Religious and Cultural Beliefs and Social Practices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRfkTq1ykSIC&pg=PA43 |year= 2005|publisher= Trentham|isbn=978-1-85856-353-4|pages=43–44}}</ref> Other Sikhs treat it as a spring festival, and joyfully celebrate it by wearing yellow colored clothes, emulating the bright yellow mustard flowers in the fields.<ref name= Nikky87>{{cite book|author=Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh|title=Sikhism: An Introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8yWAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT87|year=2011|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=978-0-85773-549-2|page=87}}</ref>

[[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]], the founder of the [[Sikh Empire]], encouraged the celebration of Basant Panchami as a social event in the Gurdwaras. In 1825 CE he gave 2,000 rupees to the [[Golden Temple|Harmandir Sahib]] Gurdwara in [[Amritsar]] to distribute food.<ref name="Gupta1991">{{cite book|author=Hari Ram Gupta|title=History of the Sikhs: The Sikh lion of Lahore, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 1799-1839|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zwFDAAAAYAAJ|year=1991|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal}}</ref> He held an annual Basant fair and sponsored kite flying as a regular feature of the fairs.<ref name="Mirepoix1967">{{cite book|author=Camille Mirepoix|title=Now Pakistan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zwpMGA0HH_sC&q=Basant|year=1967|publisher=Grenich|page=142}}</ref> Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his queen Moran would dress in yellow and fly kites on Basant Panchami.<ref name="Hasan1971">{{cite book|last=Hasan|first=Masudul|title=Unique Women of the World: Being Unique Stories of the Sidelights of the Lives, Loves, and Mysteries of Famous Women of All Times, All the World Over|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=19MPxs-mvTMC|year=1971|publisher=Unique Publications|page=96}}</ref> Maharaja Ranjit Singh would also hold a darbar or court in [[Lahore]] on Basant Panchami which lasted ten days when soldiers would dress in yellow and show their military prowess.<ref>Gulcharan Singh (1993), [https://books.google.com/books?id=xGJRAAAAYAAJ page 20], ''The Sikh Courier International'', Volumes 33-37</ref>

In the [[Malwa, Punjab|Malwa region]], the festival of Basant Panchami is celebrated with wearing of yellow dress and kite flying.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100120/bathinda.htm#1 |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Bathinda Edition |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |access-date=2014-02-17}}</ref> In [[Kapurthala]] and [[Hoshiarpur]], a Basant Panchami fair is held. People attend the fair wearing yellow clothes, turbans or accessories.<ref name="tribuneindia1">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100121/jal.htm#1 |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Jalandhar Edition |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |access-date=2014-02-17}}</ref> Sikhs also remember the martyrdom of the child [[Haqiqat Rai]] on Basant Panchmi, who was arrested by the Muslim ruler Khan Zakariya Khan after being falsely accused of insulting Islam. Rai was given the choice of converting to Islam or death and, having refused conversion, was executed on the Basant Panchami of 1741 in Lahore, Pakistan.<ref>{{cite book|author=Maan Singh Nirankari|title=Sikhism, a Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJO-ACIK_PoC&pg=PA154|year=2008|publisher=Unistar Books|isbn=978-81-7142-621-8|page=154}}</ref><ref>Pande, Alka (1999), ''Folk Music & Musical Instruments of Punjab: From Mustard Fields to Disco Lights'', Volume 1, [https://books.google.com/books?id=CgraAAAAMAAJ page 7], {{ISBN|978-1890206154}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Lakshman Singh (Bhagat)|title=The Sikh Martyrs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=banXAAAAMAAJ|year=2006|publisher=Singh Brothers|isbn=978-81-7205-382-6|pages=118–122}}</ref>

[[Nihang]]s go to [[Patiala]] on Basant Panchami and dress in Pink and Yellow on the month of [[Vaisakh]] (not only Basant Panchami day).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?/topic/37293-nihang-rehat/|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref>

==Pakistan==
Kite flying in Lahore goes back centuries. After creation of Pakistan it evolved into a highly competitive sport which is not limited to "basant" only. There are regional teams, competitions, and trophies. Kite And string making is an industry all over central Punjab providing livelihood to thousands.

Given the shared history and culture in the Indian subcontinent, the [[Punjabi Muslims]] in and around [[Lahore]] also celebrate kite flying as a sport in Pakistan from home rooftops during the Basant season.<ref name="Desai2010p32"/>

[[File:Basant Celebrations at Dargah.jpg|thumb|Basant Celebrations at the Dargah]]
==Sufi Muslim Basant==
According to Lochan Singh Buxi, Basant Panchmi is a Hindu festival adopted by some Indian Muslim [[Sufism|Sufis]] in the 12th century to mark the grave of the Muslim Sufi saint [[Nizamuddin Dargah|dargah of Nizamuddin Aulia]] in Delhi and ever since, has been observed by the Chishti order.<ref>{{cite book|author=Lochan Singh Buxi|title=Prominent Mystic Poets of Punjab: Representative Sufi Poetry in Punjabi, with English Rendering|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k7NjAAAAMAAJ|year=1994|isbn=978-81-230-0256-9|pages=49–50}}</ref> According to local Sufi traditions, the poet [[Amir Khusrau]] saw Hindu women carry yellow flowers to a temple on Basant and they were dressed in yellow, and he adopted this practice, one the Chishti order of Sufi Indian Muslims continue to practice.<ref>{{cite book|author=Paul E Losensky|title=In the Bazaar of Love: The Selected Poetry of Amir Khusrau |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yexgmTQIYhUC&pg=PT27 |year=2013|publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-81-8475-522-0|page=27}}</ref>

==Controversy:==
Vasant Panchami has been a historic occasion of dispute at the archaeological site of [[Bhojshala]] (Dhar, Madhya Pradesh) with evidence of an early Saraswati temple (locally called Waghdevi). On the site of Bhojshala is a later era Kamal-Maula mosque, which Muslims use for Friday prayers. The [[Archeological Survey of India]] (ASI) has provided annual guidelines, when the Vasant Panchami festival falls on a Friday, announcing hours when Hindus can worship at Bhojshala on Vasant Panchami, and when Muslims can. However, in past years, the muslim community scheduled earlier has refused to vacate the premises, leading to riots and disorder such as in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Rajendra Vora|author2=Anne Feldhaus|title=Region, Culture, and Politics in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kg2KAAAAMAAJ|year=2006|publisher=Manohar|isbn=978-81-7304-664-3|pages=327–329}}</ref><ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/indore-celebrates-basant-panchmi/articleshow/56924412.cms Indore celebrates Basant Panchmi], The Times of India, February 2, 2017</ref><ref>[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/dhar-bhojshala-kamal-maula-mosque-row-madhya-pradesh-vishwa-hindu-parishad/1/594073.html "Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque row: What is the dispute over the temple-cum-mosque all about?"], ''India Today'', Shreya Biswas (February 12, 2016)</ref>

==See also==
* [[Vasanta (Ritu)]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p741">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch |url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/741 741]–742}}</ref>}}

* ''"Vasant Panchmi"'', a book by [[Anurag Basu]].
* ''"Kite Festival"'' by Sanjeev Narula.
*[https://www.insidene.com/saraswati-puja-quotes-wishes-mantras-images-songs/ Saraswati Puja:] Quotes, Wishes, Mantras, Images, Songs

{{Sindhi festivals}}
{{Hindu festivals}}
{{Hindudharma}}

[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Nepal]]
[[Category:January observances]]
[[Category:February observances]]
[[Category:Festivals in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Festivals in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Festivals in Odisha]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Nepal]]
[[Category:Spring festivals]]
[[Category:Hindu festivals in India]]
[[Category:Observances set by the Pawukon calendar]]
[[Category:Spring (season) events in Nepal]]
[[Category:Days celebrating love]]

Vasant Panchami - Revision history

imported>Aryabhatt7: /* Controversy: */