The festival is celebrated with full vivacity and festivity to mark the end of the winters. It is one of the first festivals of the Year and is celebrated all over India. The yellow color has great
significance, people wear yellow clothes, offer yellow flowers in worship and put a yellow, turmeric tilak on their forehead. They visit temples and offer prayers to various gods. At home, kesar
halva, also yellow in color, is prepared. The yellow flowers of mustard crop covers the entire field in such a way that it seems as if gold is spread over the land glittering with the rays of the
sun.
The day of Basant Panchami is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. Saraswati is the goddess of learning who bequeaths the greatest wealth to humanity, the wealth of knowledge. Hindu mythology
depicts Saraswati as a pristine lady bedecked with white attire, white flowers and white pearls, sitting on a white lotus, which blooms in a wide stretch of water. The Goddess also holds Veena, a
string-instrument, like Sitar, for playing music. The prayer of Saraswati finally concludes as, "Oh Mother Saraswati remove the darkness (ignorance) of my mind and bless me with the eternal
knowledge."
|
