When is Basant Panchami 2023? Date, History, Significance, Shubh Muhurat and Saraswati Puja Celebrations

Basant Panchami 2023: Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrated in different regions of India. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the Hindu month of Magha, which usually falls in late January or early February. The festival marks the beginning of spring and is dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning.

On this day, people generally offer prayers and worship the Goddess. Many educational institutions also receive students to participate in cultural and educational activities, such as music and dance performances. Others also celebrate the festival by flying kites.

This year this festival will fall on 26 January. Read on to know more about the day:

Basant Panchami: History

While some celebrate Vasant Panchami to honor Goddess Saraswati, others celebrate the harvest and the beginning of spring. There are many folklores associated with the festival depending on the region. Yet the most widely accepted is the story of the great poet Kalidasa.

The story tells of Kalidas as a simpleton who was tricked into marrying a princess who did not respect him. The despondent poet tried to take his own life but before he could do so Goddess Saraswati appeared before him. He was asked to take a dip in the river, and when Kalidas did, he emerged from the water as an intelligent, learned and cultured man.

In this way he eventually became a famous poet. That’s why the goddess is worshiped on this day. Devotees pray to him to grant him the gift of knowledge.

Basant Panchami: Significance

Basant Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day (Panchami) of Shukla Paksha of Magha month. The day marks the beginning of preparations for Holi, which is celebrated forty days after Saraswati Puja.

The reason why people associate the color yellow with Basant Panchami is because the day is celebrated at a time when the bright yellow flowers of mustard plants can be seen ripening in the fields of India. Many other yellow flowers of this season are offered to Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom with whom the day is associated.

Basant Panchami: Date and Puja Timings

This year Vasant Panchami is falling on Thursday, January 26. Panchami Tithi will start at 12:34 PM on January 25 and end at 10:28 AM on January 26. The Muhurat for Vasant Panchami is from 07:12 am to 12:34 am. time

Basant Panchami: Celebrations

1. Vasant Panchami is commonly celebrated as Saraswati Puja in different parts of India.
2. In addition to this, different areas India Celebrate it in different ways. It remains a common practice for people to wear yellow clothes and eat yellow rice.
3. In Punjab, the festival is called Vasant Ritu and is celebrated as the festival of kites.
4. Married couples visit temples in yellow clothes on their first Vasant Panchami together, in Maharashtra.
5. In Bihar, ancient idols of the Sun God are washed and decorated during the festival of Vasant Panchami.
6. The people of Rajasthan wear jasmine garlands on this day.

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