Hindu Festivals

DIWALI - The Festival of Lights

This is one of the oldest Hindu festivals occurring in the month of Kartik, which commemorates the return of Rama to Ayodhya after an exile of 14 years. It also marks the beginning of the New Year and is celebrated with the lighting of lamps. Since Diwali falls on the new moon night, lamps are lit to brighten this moonless night According to a myth, Lakshmi will not enter a dark house. The lamps also welcome home the spirits of dead ancestors, who are believed to visit on this auspicious night. In addition, the light frightens away any evil spirit that might be wandering about near the house on this night.

Another reason for the celebration of Diwali is that it marks the killing of the evil Narkasura at the hands of Krishna. Naraka is believed to have abducted16,000 women. Krishna killed him and rescued these women whom he later married. Naraka is the personification of hell and is believed to be the monsoon during which all activities come to a stand still.

DASARA - The Victory of Good over Evil

This Hindu festival, celebrated on the tenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashvin, celebrates the victory of good over evil. Effigies of the demon king Ravana, his son Meghanatha, and his brother Kumbhakarna, are burnt amidst shouts of joy.

Dushehra, also called Vijayadashmi, is celebrated on the tenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashvina and culminates the nine-day Navaratri celebrations. It commemorates the death of the evil king Ravana along with his son Meghanatha and brother Kumbhakarna, at the hands of Rama.

According to the Ramayana, Rama was the exiled prince of Ayodhya. While living in the forest, his wife Sita was abducted by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Rama, assisted by an army of monkeys, attacked Lanka to rescue her. A fierce battle ensued between the two armies for many days as it was proving very difficult to beat the mighty Ravana. Rama then prayed for nine days to nine different aspects of Durga (see also Navaratri) and accumulated enough strength to defeat Ravana.

The Hindus relive the defeat of Ravana during Dushehra. Ramalila, a dance-drama narrating the story of Rama's life according to the Ramayana, is enacted for the nine days preceding Dushehra. Almost every area stages its own version of the play, preparations for which take place many days in advance. Traditionally only men participated in the Ramalila, enacting the women's characters also. Today however, women in urban areas also participate.

The tenth day marks the end of these Ramalilas when the final act of this drama is staged. Huge effigies, sometimes almost 110 ft high, of Ravana, his son and brother are made many days in advance, using colored and hay. They are also stuffed with crackers. At the appointed time, a person dressed as Rama, shoots flaming arrows at the effigies, which start to burn. Shouts of 'Jai Shri Rama’ or 'Hail Lord Rama' resound.

GANESHA UTSAV - The festival of Elephant God

This ten-day festival, celebrated in Maharashtra during the bright half of Bhadrapad, commemorates the birth of Ganesha. It is marked with a grand procession of the elephant-headed god.

This is a ten-day festival, dedicated to Ganesha. Celebrated from the fourth to the fourteenth day in the bright fortnight of Bhadrapad, it is specially important in Maharashtra and is one of the cultural highlights of the state. LokManya Tilak, the illustrious freedom fighter of Maharashtra, popularised this festival.

The festival begins on the fourth day of Bhadrapad, which is celebrated as Ganesha Chaturthi in the rest of India. This day is very important to all Hindus, who believe that by praying to the remover of obstructions, people hope to dispel all obstacles from their lives. Some people believe that this was the day Ganesha was born.

The most popular belief how ever, is based on a story in Skanda Purana. Once Ganesha was invited for a feast in Chandralok. The god, known for his ravenous appetite, stuffed himself with laddoos. When he got up to walk after the meal, he could not balance because of his huge stomach and stumbled. As he fell, his stomach bur stand all the laddoos came rolling out. The moon could not contain himself and began laughing. Enraged, Ganesha cursed the moon, causing him to vanish from the universe. However because of the moon's absence, the whole world began to wane. So the gods asked Shiva to persuade Ganesha to relent. There pentant moon also apologized for his misbehavior. On Shiva's intervention, Ganesha modified his curse. He announced that the moon would be invisible on only one day of a month, and would be partially seen for the Ganesha Utsav most part.

The festival is not just restricted to homes. The local communities install huge, elaborately decorated statues of the idol in glamorous tents. In some places, the idol is adorned with precious gems and gold, which requires strict police vigil. Other than the ritual worship of the idol, the ten days also feature many cultural activities, including the singing of devotional songs, dramatic performances, dances, films, lectures and speeches by various public figures. Lezam and acrobatics are two of the most popular performances during these ten days.

After ten days of ritual worship, the god returns to his heavenly abode and his image is immersed in water. The farewell procession is a pandemonium of musicians, dancers, acrobats, singers, priests, onlookers and numerous Ganesha idols from a number of houses and temples. All join in the procession to the final destination at the ghats of a river or the ocean in Mumbai and other coastal areas. Shouts of 'Ganapathi bappa Moraya, Purchya varshi laukariya' or 'beloved Ganesha, Lord of Moraya, come again early next year' resound all around. The immersion ritual is simple. Final gifts of coconuts, flowers and burning camphor cubes are offered to the idol, accompanied by the singing of aratis. Then a few people carry it far enough into the river to immerse it, where it quickly dissolves. The Ganesha Utsav immersion marks the end of the ten-day festival.

HANUMAN JAYANTI - The Birth of Hanuman, the Monkey God

It is celebrated largely in North India to commemorate the birth of the monkey god, Hanuman, during Chaitra. It marks a symbolic acceptance of the human race's peaceful co-existence with nature and the worship of an animal.

Hanuman, during Chaitra. It marks a symbolic acceptance of the human race's peaceful co-existence with nature and the worship of an animal as a divine creature.

Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the monkey god widely venerated throughout India. It is celebrated during Chaitra and is especially important to Brahmacharis, wrestlers and bodybuilders. Hanuman was an ardent devotee of Rama, and is worshipped for his unflinching devotion to the god. From the early morning, devotees flock Hanuman temples to worship the monkey god. The officiating priest bathes the idol and offers special prayers to the gods. Then the entire body is smeared with sindoora and oil, a symbol of life and strength. According to a popular belief, once when Sita was applying sindoora to her hair, Hanuman asked her the reason for doing so. She replied that by applying sindoora, she ensured a long life for her husband. The more sindoora she applied, the longer Rama's life would be. The devoted Hanuman then smeared his entire body with sindoora, in an effort to ensure Rama's immortality. Hence Hanuman's idol is always daubed with sindoora.

The cult of Hanuman is fairly strong in India and hence Hanuman Jayanti is an important festival. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. As an unmarried, celibate god, he is specially popular with body-builders, who believe that like him, one needs to be celibate in order to have a strong body. Hanuman is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield rocks, move mountains, dart through the air, seize the clouds and rival Vishnu's bird, Garuda in swiftness off light. He is worshipped in folk tradition as a deity with magical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits.

People offer sweets and fruit, specially bananas, to the god. Since Hanuman is a monkey god, monkey sin zoos and neighboring areas are also objects of veneration on this day. Men also fast from morning till evening. Wrestling commences with both wrestlers crying 'Jai Hanuman' or 'Hail Hanuman'. The winner is rewarded handsomely on this occasion. Other daring games like balancing an immensely heavy stone on one's chest, and pulling a heavy jeep or car with one's teeth are also popular nowadays. All these events represent the power and strength that Hanuman symbolizes. Most of the body-builders and wrestlers fast on this day, breaking it only at night.

HOLI - The Festival of Colour

This colorful festival of the Hindus, celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna, heralds the advent of spring.

The colorful festival of Holi, literally 'burning', is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna and heralds the spring season. The word probably originated from a cry, shout or sound in singing.

Holi is the time when people from all castes and social strata come together forgetting all past differences and grievances. Originally the festival was primarily for the Shudras who were otherwise not allowed to participate in festivals. The main ritual on this day centres around a bonfire ceremoniously kindled at the time of the rising moon. This suggests that the festival is also a celebration of the barley harvest. People start collecting fire - wood, cow-dung and rubbish around a central pole in the locality many days in advance. On Choti Holi, they come together to light the fire. Men and women circumambulate the fire singing and dancing. A pot of new barley seeds is buried under the pyre for roasting. These seeds are eaten after the fire is extinguished . Divinations for the coming harvest are cast by interpreting the direction of the flames or by the state of the seeds in the buried pot. People sometimes take embers from the fire to their homes to rekindle their own domestic fires. The ashes from the Holi fire are also believed to provide protection against diseases.

Mythologically, the Holi fire is regarded as a funeral pyre, for it is understood to have destroyed Holika, a demoness. According to a legend, Hiranyakshipu was a demon king. He wanted to avenge the death of his younger brother, who had been killed by Vishnu. He performed severe penance for many years to gain enough power to become the king of the three worlds. So intense was his penance that a smoke billowed from his head and the entire world was in danger of annihilation. Worried, the gods ran to Brahma for help. Brahma then appeared before Hiranyakshipu and the demon asked for a boon that he would be killed by neither man nor beast, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither on earth nor in the heavens ,neither during the day nor at night .Brahma granted him the boon.

Believing that he was now invincible, Hiranyakshipu soon became pompous and ordered all his people to worship only him. The demon how ever, had a son named Prahalad who was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. Much to his father's chagrin, Prahalad continued to pray to Vishnu. The evil demon decided to kill his own son, but each attempt failed. The king then summoned his sister Holika who, because of a boon, was immune to fire. He prepared a pyre, lit it and asked Holika to sit on it, clutching Prahalad. Vishnu intervened to save Prahalad and the evil Holika perished instead. This legend is relived on Choti Holi when the pyre is re-lit. Holika also signifies the dirt and filth that collects during the winter months. Hay and old rubbish is thrown into the bonfire for spring cleaning.

SRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI - The Birth of Lord Krishna

This Hindu festival, which falls during the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadra, is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Krishna to annihilate Kansa. It is marked by fasts, prayers and the enactment of incidents from Krishna's childhood.

Janma literally means 'birth' and ashtami means the 'eighth day'. The eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapad is celebrated as Krishna Janmashtami. It commemorates the birth of Krishna, born to annihilate Kansa, the evil king of Mathura. People observe a day-long fast which is broken only at mid night, the time when Krishna is believed to have been born. The festival is a community celebration, and people visit Krishna temples which are specially decorated and lit for the occasion.

The image of Krishna is ceremonially bathed in a mixture of curds, milk, honey, dry fruit and basil or tulasi leaves. This mixture is then distributed as prasad to all devotees. The idol is dressed in new clothes an do offered food, sweets, fruit and clarified butter. Priests chant mantras from religious scriptures. The temple too reverberates with devotional songs in praise of the god. In Mathura, believed to be Krishna's birthplace, and other places near by, these ceremonial observances are amplified by the staging of dramas. In them, Krishna makes himself available in and specially vivid manner to his devotees through child actors. These Brahmin boys act out incidents from Krishna's childhood and are, for that period, considered to be the god. Devotees treat them with respect and veneration, even prostrating before them. Tableaux featuring scenes from the life of Krishna abound the streets all through the day. A little before midnight, devotees pour into temples to participate in the special arati and to relive the birth of Krishna. Till midnight, devotional song are sung in anticipation of the holy birth. Special cradles are installed at temples and a small statue of the god's s placed in them. At exactly midnight, temple bells are rung to announce the birth of Krishna. Everyone clamors to rock the cradle of the newborn. Then a special arati is performed, after which devotees partake the special prasad.

According to the Puranas, Kansawas an evil king of Mathura who had overthrown his father and imprisoned him. His at trocities drove the gods to Vishnu who promised to take his eighth incarnation in the human world. He was then born as Krishna in the 28th year of the Dwapara Yuga. Krishna Janmashtami Vishnu took his eighth incarnation of Krishna to kill the evil king Kansa. According to a legend related to Krishna's birth, Kansa had a cousin called Devaki, whom he loved dearly. In due course, Kansa arranged a suitable match for her and married her with great pomp and show. However, Krishna Janmashtami an oracle foretold Kansa that Device's eight child would be responsible for his death. Enraged, Kansa was about to slice off her head when her husband Vasudeva intervened.

He begged Kansa not to kill Devaki and in return promised to give him all their children at birth. Kansa agreed, but imprisoned the couple to ensure this. In time, he killed six of their children by throwing them against a stone slab outside the prison. The seventh child however was transferred to the womb of Rohini, another of Vasudeva's wives, and Kansa believed that Devaki had suffered a miscarriage. When she was pregnant with the eighth child, Kansa increased security at the prison and ordered the guards to bring the newborn to him the moment he was born.

It was midnight on the eighth day in the month of Shravana, on a dark, rainy and windy night. Just before the child was born, the guards all fell into a deep slumber and the locks on the prison door opened. Devaki and Vasudeva too were freed of their binds. And Krishna was born. A voice from the heavens instructed Vasudeva to carry Krishna across the Yamuna river to a village called Gokul. There, he should go to the home of his sister Yashoda and her husband Nanda and replace Krishna with their new-born daughter. Vasudeva put his son in a basket and went quickly towards the Yamuna. When he reached the shores, he found the water level rising. He put the basket on his head and began towards the Yamuna . The water level rose but everytime it touched the baby's toes, it receded. Suddenly, a cobra sprang out Krishna Janmashtami of the water. Vasudeva froze but the snake stopped to spread its hood over the basket. It was Sesha Naga protecting Krishna from the rain. Vasudeva realised his son was no ordinary baby. He hurried to Gokul, exchanged the children and returned to the prison.

As soon as he entered, the locks shut and the guards awoke. Hearing the baby cry, they informed Kansa who rushed to the prison. He was about to smash the little girl against the stone slab, when she slipped out of his hands. As she rose towards the sky, she warned him that the one responsible for his death was safe.

When Krishna grew up, he killed his evil uncle and restored the throne to his grandfather.

DURGA PUJA - The Victory of Good over Evil

This nine-day festival of the Hindus is celebrated in the month of Ashvina in Bengal. It marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura after a long battle, signifying the victory of good over evil.

Durga Puja is a nine-day festival, celebrated in the state of West Bengal, from the first to the tenth day in the month of Ashvina. This period is celebrated as Navaratri in most parts of India. Durga Puja is the most important and the most eagerly awaited festival of the state. It commemorates the victory of Durga over the demon Mahishasura. The festival assumed its popular status largely due to the efforts of King Ballal Sen.

According to the Markandeya Purana and Devi Purana, Mahishasura was a buffalo demon. After severe penance lasting many years, he procured a boon from Brahma granting that he would not be slain by gods, men, spirits or any aspect of nature. Convinced that he was invincible, he tyrannised the entire world, vanquished the gods and ruled in their place.

The gods appealed to Shiva for help. He suggested that the three great gods, Brahma, Vishnu and himself, should combine their energies to create a woman. She would be powerful enough to vanquish the demon, as he had foolishly forgotten to name women while asking for the boon. The three gods then combined their energies to create Durga, a beautiful woman with 18 arms. Her eyes shone like sunrays and her smile was as cool as the moon. Each god presented her with his special weapon and a lion was to be her vehicle.

When Mahishasura heard of Durga's beauty, he wished to marry her and sent across a proposal. Durga replied that she would marry him on condition that he defeats her in battle first. Enraged, Mahishasura accepted the challenge and a fierce battle ensued. The demon fired a barrage of deadly arrows at her, used a variety of weapons, and transformed himself into various animals to attack her. But Durga repulsed every attempt. Finally, using the discus Vishnu had given her, She sliced off his head. Flowers rained on the goddess as the gods rejoiced. Shiva declared that the ninth day of the bright half of the month of Ashvina would be celebrated as the great day of victory of good over evil.

According to local belief, Durga comes to the earth, her parental home, during this time. She arrives on the sixth day of the month and returns to her heavenly abode on the 11th day. For the 4 days that she is here however, she is welcomed and honored as a family would its married daughter.

SHIVARATRI - The Great Night of Shiva

Celebrated on the new moon night in the month of Phalguna, this Hindu festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Literally 'the great night of Shiva', celebrated on the moonless night of the month of Phalguna, which is fourteenth day in the dark half, this festival is specially dedicated to Shiva, the destroyer.

This is an important day for the devotees of Shiva, who stay awake throughout the night, praying to him. In all major centers of Shoveling worship, Shivaratri, also called Mahashivaratri, is a grand occasion. From the very early morning, Shiva temples are flocked by devotees, mostly women, who come to perform the traditional Shoveling worship and hence hope for favors from the god. All through the day, devotees abstain from eating food and break their fast only the next morning, after the nightlong worship.The day is considered to be specially auspicious for women. According to one myth, Parvati performed tapas, and prayed and meditated on this day to ward off any evil that may befall her husband on the Moonless night. Since then, Mahashivaratri is also believed to bean auspicious occasion for women to pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons. An unmarried woman prays for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband.

According to a legend in the Ramayana, once King Bhagiratha left his kingdom to mediate for the salvation of the souls of his an castors. He observed a penance to Brahma for a thousand years, requesting Ganga to come down to earth from heaven. He wanted her to wash over his ancestor's ashes to release them from a curse and allow them to go to heaven. Brahma granted his wish but told him to pray to Shiva, who alone could sustain the weight of her descent. Accordingly, Ganga descended on Shiva's head, and after meanderingt through his thick matted locks, reached the earth. According to a modified version, what reached the earth was just sprinkles from his hair. This story is believed to be re-enacted by bathing the linga. The love of water, the primary element of life, is also remembered in this ritualistic action.

The linga is bathed with milk, water and honey. It is then an nointed with sandalwood paste. People offer wood apple or bel leaves and fruit, milk, sandalwood and jujube fruit or ber to the linga. Shiva is believed to be very hot tempered, and hence things, which have a cooling effect, are offered to him. People decorate the linga with flowers and garlands and also offer incense sticks and fruit. In bigger temples, there is almost a stampede as devotees seek favors from the beloved god. Many also employ the services of a priest to perform special prayers.

SRI RAMANAVAMI - The Birth of Lord Rama

This nine-day Hindu festival, celebrated in the bright fortnight in the month of Chaitra, commemorates the birth of Lord Rama who was born to annihilate the demon King Ravana.

Ramanavami celebrates the birth of Rama or Ramachandra. The festival is celebrated on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Chaitra. In some parts of India, it is a nine-day festival, coinciding with the Vasanta Navaratri.

People keep awake the whole of the ninth night, in anticipation of Rama's birth. They sing devotional songs in praise of him and rock his image in cradles to celebrate his birth. There are also recitations from the Ramacharitamanas. A special puja is performed the next morning as thanksgiving. Though the public worship of Rama is of recent origin, his worship inside the home dates back to the pre-Christian era. Reference to keeping a strict fast on Ramanavami is found in the Kalika Purana. The vrata of Ramanavami was considered one of the five most important vratas of the ancient times. The Ramachandrika and Vratarka expressly state that everybody is obligated to observe this vrata, as it is the sole means of worldly happiness and salvation. This includes members of the lowest castes and outcastes, who were ordinarily not permitted to observe social and religious rituals.

MAKARA SANKRANTI - Return of the Sun to the North

Makara Sankranti celebrates the entry of the sun into the Tropic of Capricorn in the month of Magha.

Makara literally means 'Capricorn' and Sankranti is the day when the sun passes from one sign of the zodiac to the next. The Sankranti of any month is considered auspicious as it signifies afresh start. However Makara Sankranti is celebrated in the month of Magha when the sun passes through the winter solstice, from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn.

It is a way of giving thanks to the elements of nature that help man. This is the period when the winter recedes, paving the way for the summer. It is the time the farmers bring home their harvest. In the coast al regions, it is a harvest festival dedicated to Indra. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, it is celebrated as a three-day harvest festival Pongal. In Assam, the festival is celebrated as Bhogali Bihu, and in Punjab it is called Lohri.

According to Hindu mythology, one 'human' year of 365 days is equivalent to one day and night of the gods. Makara Sankranti marks the beginning of the day of the gods, which is equivalent to six solar months and is believed to be the auspicious part of the year. The previous six months, considered the night and therefore symbolic of darkness and evil, are inauspicious.

Makara Sankranti is believed to be the time when Surya rides his chariot, drawn by seven horses, from the southern skies to the north. For the pastoral people therefore, it is of prime importance for it signifies the end of the winter and the 'turning back' of the sun to the north.

NAGA PANCHAMI - The Festival of the Snakes

This popular Hindu festival, which falls on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Shriven, is observed to minimize the danger of snakebites in the monsoon months.

Naga literally means 'serpent' and panchami is the 'fifth day' Naga Panchami is the festival of snakes celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Shriven. The festival falls during the rainy months and is believed to counter the increased possibility of a snakebite during this time. People visit temples specially dedicated to snakes and worship them. Shiva temples are also favoured places for veneration as snakes are considered dear to him. In South India, people craft images of snakes using cow dung on either side of the entrance to the house to welcome the snake god.

According to a legend, Kadru, the mother of the nagas, once bet with her sister Vinata about the colour of the tail of Indra's horse. She asserted that the tail was black even though the horse was absolutely white. According to Vinata however, the tail of the horse was as white as the rest of it. Kadru then asked her sons the nagas to coil around the white tail of the horse so that it appeared black. When they refused to participate in deceit, Kadru cursed them to be consumed by fire for disobeying her. Brahma however softened the curse and sent them to live in the netherworld. This happened on the fifth day in the month of Shriven and because the lives of the nagas was spared on this day, it is considered to be auspicious for snake worship.

NAVARATRI - The Festival of Nine Nights

This nine-day festival of the Hindus is celebrated in almost all parts of India in the month of Ashvina, and is marked by fasting and praying to different aspects of Devi.

Literally 'nine nights', this nine-day period from the new moon day to the ninth day of Ashvina is considered the most auspicious time of the Hindu Calendar and is hence the most celebrated time of the year. Although it has different names in different parts of India, it is celebrated by Hindus from all regions. From Kashmir in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south, and from Gujarat in the west to Sikkim in the east, it is celebrated with great enthusiasm as the conquest of good over evil. Every region has its own myths and reasons to explain this.

The nine different aspects of Devi are worshipped over the nine days. These are the most popular forms under which she is worshipped: Durga :goddess beyond reach; Bhadrakali the auspicious power of time; Amba or Jagdamba: mother of the world; Annapurna: giver of food and plenty; Sarvamangala: auspicious goddess; Bhairavi: terrible, fearful, power of death; Chandika or Chandi: violent, wrathful, furious; Lalita: playful; and Bhavani: giver of existence.

According to one hypothesis, in ancient times, this was a festival intended for the Kshatriyas. After the four-month long monsoon when military activity was not possible, this was considered a good time to start afresh on one's conquests. For nine days before starting on the war journey, kings prayed to the nine different aspects of Devi or Adishakti. They also prayed for their arms and ammunition. The tenth day was when the journey for the conquest began. The origin of this custom can also be traced to the Ramayana. According to it, Rama had to pray to the nine different aspects of Devi to be able to kill Ravana. He then accumulated enough power to kill Ravana on the tenth day, which was called Vijayadashmi or Victory Day. Since then, the tradition of praying to Devi for nine days has continued and was especially pronounced amongst the Kshatriyas who believed that by doing so, they too would be able to defeat the most powerful enemy.

VASANTA PANCHAMI - The Advent of Spring

A very important festival of the Hindus, celebrated in Bengalon the fifth day in the month of Magha, is marked by the worship of Sarasvati. It also marks the advent of spring and the end of the long winter.

Literally 'the fifth day of spring', Vasanta Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Magha. It is also known as Sirapanchami in Bihar and Orissa, when the ploughs are worshipped and the land is furrowed after the winter months. In Bengal, the day is celebrated as Sarasvati Puja and is marked by the worship of Sarasvati.

Vasanta Panchami heralds the spring season. It is hence celebrated with gaiety and festivity to mark the end of the winter, which can be quite severe in northern India. The festive colour yellow, symbolic of spring, plays an important part of this day. 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 colour, is prepared.

The festival itself dates to antiquity. It is reminiscent of the festival of Vasantotsava of the ancient times, which was one of the most important celebrations as it marked the beginning of the agricultural season. The YajurVeda prescribes the worship of Indra,Varuna and Brahma on this day. In later texts, the worship of Kama and Rati, symbolic of fertility, is advised.

On Vasanta Panchami, people also worship Sarasvati. In fact, in Bengal the day is more popularly known as Sarasvati Puja. No authentic explanation exists as to why this day has been chosen for Sarasvati. Some believed it to be the birthday of Sarasvati. For this reason, it is also known as Vagishvari Jayanti Panchmi. Others believe that on this day the goddess came down to earth, along with Durga to drive away the ignorance that Mahishasura was nurturing within him. In a wider sense though, this is the end of winter, symbolic of darkness and ignorance and the beginning of spring, symbolic of knowledge.

The object of Sarasvati worship is to achieve distinction in all academic disciplines, science and literature. In addition to this, the continuity of the dynastic line of the devotee, his material prosperity and fame are also within the purview of worship. Though not celebrated on a large scale, decorated tents are erected in public places and the image of the goddess is placed on a raised platform. A number of devotees congregate in the morning for arati and to offer prayers. This festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm in educational and cultural institutions and homes. Students place their books before the image of the goddess.