Vasant Panchami

Vasant Panchami (Basant Panchami)

January-February; fifth day of waxing half of Hindu month of Magha

Vasant Panchami is a festival of spring, celebrated throughout India among Hindus and Sikhs at the end of January or in early February. People wear bright yellow clothes, the color of the mustard flower that heralds the onset of spring, and mark the day with music, dancing, and kite-flying.
In Shantiniketan, West Bengal, the festival is celebrated with special lavishness in honor of Sarasvati, the Hindu goddess of learning and the arts. Her images are taken in procession to rivers to be bathed, and books and pens are placed at her shrine.
Many five-year-old Sikh children begin attending school for the first time on this day because Sikhs believe it a sacred time for children to begin their education.
In recent years, many young people observe Vasant Panchami (also spelled Basant Panchami ) by exchanging tokens of affection, similar to Valentine's Day in the United States.

CONTACTS:
Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal
2, Brabourne Road
Kolkata, West Bengal 700 001 India
91-33-22258134; fax: 91-33-22254565
www.wbtourism.com

SOURCES:
BkHolWrld-1986, Feb 16
OxYear-1999, p. 720
RelHolCal-2004, p. 182
SikhFest-1989, p. 41