Vasanta Panchami

Vasanta Panchami or Basant Panchami festival is celebrated all over India. Although it has lost its importance gradually, nonetheless the festival has its own charm. Vasanta Panchami festival is celebrated during the Magha Masa on the Shukla Panchami. It is celebrated to welcome the Spring season or the Vasanta Ritu. Vasant Panchami festival is observed in a specific manner particular to the Indian State.

The Bhagavata Purana states,

On the request of great saintly persons Lord Narayana divided Himself into twelve parts and created seasons, beginning with Vasanta.

In Bhagavad-gita Krishna says that of seasons He is flower bearing spring season – aham rtunaam kusumaakarah

Vasanta Panchami is the day of Mother Saraswati

Many devotees observe Vasant Panchami as Saraswati Puja Day especially the Northern India. People worship Mother Saraswati who is the Goddess of learning and knowledge. It is a jubilant time of the year when the yield of Mustard blooms with yellow color. The yellow color is favorite of Mother Saraswati and symbolizes energy and love.

People adorn yellow clothes and eat foodstuff which is yellow in color. Educational institutions such as schools and colleges worship mother Saraswati gorgeously today. Many traditional families perform Akshara Abhyasa Samskara for their children on this day.

Vasant Panchami relates to Krishna’s lila

Lord Sri Krishna who is the Lord of the unlimited lilas begins performing Vasanta Lilas i.e, sweet amorous lilas with the gopis of Vrindavana. Krishna relishes the company of gopis and gopas relishing each season in its charm.

Vasanta is the king of all the seasons. During this season the charming forest of Vrindavana is bedecked with beautiful flowers and lush green trees. Lord Krishna who is King of Vraja celebrates this season with His lilas such as Vasanta Rasa Lila.

There is a particular remeberance of this festival. Once during the Vasanta Rasa Lila, Lord Krishna suddenly disappeared from the dancing arena to enjoy the company of Radharani. When gopis started searching He hid himself in the bushes. To test gopis suddenly He showed His four-handed form. When gopis saw, they just worshiped Him with reverence and resumed searching for Krishna.

However, when Radharani appeared before Krishna, He could not hide His original form and had to appear as Krishna only. Such was the unconditional love of Srimati Radharani for Krishna. This lila is associated with the Alarnath Temple in Odisha.

This festival is celebrated very grandly in the temples of Vrindavana, remembering the Vasanta lilas of Lord Sri Krishna. All the vigrahas are dressed in yellow garments and the temples are bedecked with yellow flowers. Devotees play holi with the yellow-colored flowers and are delighted to have darshan of Their darling Krishna.

In the Radha Shyamsundar Temple of Vrindavana, Vasanta Panchami has got a special significance. On this day the divine wedding anniversary of Their Lordships is celebrated. The vigrahas of Lord Shyamsundar and Srimati Radharani were originally wedded by Srila Shyamananda Pandita some five hundred years ago.

The date of Badrinath Darshan is decided on Vasanta Panchami

Lord Badrinath is worshiped by humans for six months and remaining six months He is worshiped by the devatas. When the worship of devatas is going on, no human beings can intervene, therefore the darshan of Lord Badri Vishal is closed during this time. The darshan of the Lord is opened around Akshaya Tritiya and the exact date of temple opening is fixed on Vasanta Panchami. An auspicious date is chosen in the presence of Maharaja of Garwal from the Vedic calendar.

Magha Masa is an auspicious month. There are many important festivals which are observed in this month. Taking a holy dip in the River Ganges and the sacred rivers is highly recommended during this month. The festival of Vasanta Panchami marks the auspicious beginnings. The air is filled with the aroma of love and joy. The difficulties of the winter season are just over and the beautiful spring season begins.