Basanta Panchami Brata/Sahid Diwas | वसन्तपञ्चमी व्रत/शहीद दिवस | 2076 Magh 16 | Hamro Patro

Vasanta Panchami, A triangular manifest of inter-religious values

After a long winter in the country, it's finally a time for spring to take over. Dreary chilling winter days transition into more pleasant and smiling weather.
A warm welcome to the fifth day of the Magha month in Hindu calendar, popularly known as Saraswoti Pooja (Worship day for the goddesses of knowledge and wisdom). There are several other names for this specific day which beholds the dual importance of culture and the arrival of spring, also known as Basanta/ Vasanta Panchami which translates vasanta into spring and panchami as fifth day. This day also sets an alarm on the preparation of upcoming cultural commemorations such as Holi, shivaratri and several others. As the spring commences, the warmth in the breeze will now increase, the cuckoos are all set to sing a morning hymn for us, welcome to the spring of this year.

सरस्वती मया दृष्टा वीणापुस्तक धारिणी ।
हंसवाहन संयुक्ता विधादानं करोतु मे ॥

May Goddess Saraswati, who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon, and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops; who is adorned in radiant white attire, on whose beautiful arm rests the veena (Harp), and whose throne is a white lotus; who is surrounded and respected by the gods, protect me. May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness and ignorance”

The vedic sanatan hindu rituals have multiple practical dimensions and these cultures/ rituals have always been an intrinsic part of Nepali living. We worship and value everything that is related to our existence, and today is the day of knowledge, skills and wisdom.

There is a reference in "Bramha Vivarta Purana" which clearly states that lord Krishna granted this specific day of "Vasanta Panchami" to be worshiped on the name of Saraswoti who is the goddesses of art, music, ideas, science and words. In many Hindu sanatan family, this day is considered as an auspicious day for kids to write their first words with their fingers/ pen / pencils. Schools organize saraswoti pooja in their premises for their students and parents, entrance gates are specially decorated by banana leaves, ashoka branches, bamboos and colorful papers. They distribute prasad to every visitors, these Prasad includes buniya "special multicolored traditional sweets" fruits and puris", and however this day is one among fewer days in the calendar where students can visit their school in their out dress "Not in their school uniforms".

Saraswoti Pooja has a triangular manifest of interreligious values, the idol of Saraswoti in the prehistoric temple of Pashupatinath Kathmandu is also worshiped as an idol of Manjushri "The Buddhist deity" in this day with equal significance and acknowledgement. Even the Muslim culture and sufi ideology is found to be related with the significance of Saraswoti pooja, since 12th century Sufi community have been celebrating sufi Vasantam in this day. Delhi's fakir Nijamuddin was very sad as his nephew Takumuddin encountered an untimely death, now the incident correlates to world famous Sufi poet Ameer Fusro who was able to bring smiles in Nijamuddin's face because of his poetry and acts. It is said that Ameer went to Nijamuddin's dargaha with a yellow flower Vass and in yellow attire on the day of Vasanta Panchami, considerably yellow is the favorite color of goddesses Saraswoti. Ameer Fusro was able to take out Nijamuddin from his deep melancholy in this day, thus the day was commemorated as sufi Vasantam, still hundreds of sufi saints visit the dargaha of Nijamuddin aauleya on this day and celebrate.

Devotees wake up early, take a bath, wear clean clothes and establish "Kalashas" in their worship room and worship Ganesha, Bishnu, Shiva, Sun and Saraswoti chanting various Sanskrit hymns and prayers. Beyond any religious context, this day is a pure day of acknowledging knowledge, skills, wisdom, words and articulations. May the ink of writers never dry, may the voice of voiceless never fade out, may the usages of alphabets be more used in addressing friendship, peace and humanity, may the grammar always support our expression and music melody always be in you.

Creation and knowledge is vital for everyone in this world, may mother saraswoti be in every hands, eyes, ear and tongues, knowledge and love prevail in this world.

Suyog Dhakal for Hamro Patro