Happy Saraswati Puja 2020: Here’s why we celebrate Vasant Panchami

Basant Panchami
or Vasant Panchami is celebrated across India with much fanfare in the month of
January or February. This year, Basant Panchami is observed on January 29.

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People also
celebrate this day as Saraswati Puja. Goddess Saraswati is the Hindu deity of
music, art, knowledge, wisdom and learning.

According to
the Hindu calendar, the auspicious time to perform Saraswati puja this year
will be between from 10:45 am on January 29 to 1:00 pm on January 30.

Basant
Panchami marks the beginning of the spring and conclusion of the winter. The
day holds importance for farmers as their fields turn yellow with the flowering
of the mustard crop.

On the auspicious
day of Basant Panchami, devotees wear yellow clothes and worship the goddess.

Devotees
offer yellow flowers, kumkum, rice and bhog to Saraswati. The puja area is
cleaned properly and decorated with flowers and bel leaves. Rangoli design
adorn the puja and thresholds of houses. Children keep their books and other
stationery items in front of the idol to seek blessing.

Basant
Panchmi is popular for its delicacies like khichuri, labra (mixed vegetables),
begun bhaja, paayesh, sondesh and rajbhog.

In some
parts of the country, kite flying also takes place on the auspicious occasion
of Basant Panchami.