Basant Panchami is the festival that denotes Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning who erode erode the greatest wealth to the mankind, i.e. the wealth of knowledge.
Accroding to Hindu mythology, she is a pristine lady with white attire, white flowers and white pearls, sitting on white lotus which blooms in a wide stretch of water. Holding a veena a string instrument for playing music.
The four arms of Goddess Saraswati denote the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness, and ego. She sits on a white goose also called as swan and the swan is known for its peculiar characteristics of separating milk from water, indicating that one should possess clear vision and knowledge to differentiate between good and evil.
It is known that Goddess Saraswati was born on Basant Panchami and students worship the goddess on this day. The prayer of Goddess on this day concludes “Oh Mother Saraswati remove the darkness of my mind and bless me with eternal knowledge”.
On this day children are taught reading and writing first and is considered auspicious day to begin a child’s education. Students keep their notebooks, pens and educational items near the statue of Goddess Saraswati.
The celebrations of basant Panchami
Yellow is the significant color of this festival because it signifies the ripening of fruits and crops. The mustard field in the North India blooms with the yellow crop. People wear yellow clothes, offer yellow flowers to Goddess and put yellow turmeric tilak on their forehead. They visit temples and offer prayes to various gods.