Saraswati Puja is also known as Basant Panchami, it is a festival that marks the arrival of spring, celebrated by people in various ways depending on the region. The Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which occurs forty days later. Though largely known as a religious festival, there is much more to the day then just puja. Here are some facts about Saraswati Puja.

1. Mother Of All Vedas

Maa Saraswati is called the mother of all Vedas. Just like a Wikipedia is a repository of a lot of knowledge, Maa Saraswati is the repository of Brahma’s all knowledge and intelligence. According to the Rigveda, Saraswati is a river but started losing her significance as a river in the post-Vedic age. She started being associated with literature, arts, music etc. In Hinduism, Saraswati is symbolic of intelligence, consciousness, creativity and education.

2. Indian Valentine’s Day

If the world celebrates Valentine’s Day on February 14th each year, many youths celebrate it traditionally on Saraswati Puja. The day is marked by couples having their day out and parks are filled with such lovebirds! There are no restrictions on roaming about on this day, and the youthful minds use this opportunity ideally.

3. Skies Get Dotted!

In various parts of the country, the day is marked by traditional kite flying. The roofs are crowded by the youthful boys and they enjoy competing in kite flying contests among themselves. Once a kite is cut, others are seen running to capture it.

4. Akshar-Abhyasam

Basant Panchami is hugely popular as Saraswati Puja. On this day first-time learners are initiated to education. The ritual is known as Akshar-Abhyasam or Vidya-Arambham. The Goddess is worshipped at all educational institutions. Students and those associated with education, art or culture pray to Saraswati for eternal knowledge and enlightenment.

5. Yellow Dressing Day

On this day the clothing colour switches to yellow. People generally wear yellow on this day as the colour is associated with spring and Saraswati. Some would wear yellow dresses at no other time, but this day.  Yellow sweets are also distributed as Prasad (religious offering to the Goddess).

6. Maa Saraswati

In the eastern part of India, Maa Saraswati is considered the daughter of Lord Shiva and Maa Durga. Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Karthikeya are considered as her siblings. In Buddhist iconography, Maa Saraswati is considered as the consort of Manjushri.

7. Basant Panchami

The seasonal spring festival of Basant Panchami, which is observed on the fifth day of Hindu month “Magh”, is also called Shree Panchami when it comes to celebrating Saraswati Puja. Basant Panchami is observed in different ways across India. It is celebrated at Sufi shrines as Sufi Basant, while Punjab hosts the Basant Festival of Kites as a part of the Sikh festival on this day. Basant Panchami is the beginning of the spring festive cycle that ends with the celebration of Holi (Basant Utsav).

8. The Lotus

The Lotus on which Maa Saraswati sits is considered as a symbol of supreme knowledge.

9. The Veena

The Veena that Maa Saraswati holds, does not only symbolize harmony but also symbolizes intelligence and intellect.

10. Students Become Architects

Saraswati Puja is held in most households and the responsibility of decorating the puja area or pandals falls on the residing student. So, they have to get all creative. There is a sort of competition, for all the friends will visit each other’s house on the eve of the puja and comparisons will be drawn.

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