Vasant Panchami 2016 – The Festival of Color Yellow

Image Credit: 4to40.com

The Vasant Panchami festival is celebrated every year on the 5th day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magha, which falls during January-February. Vasant Panchami day is dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami day. Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami and Saraswati Panchami. Vasant Panchami marks the beginning of the spring season. In eastern parts of India, particularly in West Bengal, it is celebrated as Saraswati Puja. Sates of Punjab and Bihar, celebrate it as a festival of kites. However, during the ancient times, the festival was celebrated in the royal palace of Kamadeva. Dancing girls and other celebrants danced on the beats of dhol. New clothes were designed to participate in the celebrations. The day was marked by singing love songs.

The color yellow is strongly associated with Vasant Panchami, representing the fields of mustard which a common sight in the Punjab and Haryana areas at this time of year.