Vasant Panchami, also known as Basant Panchami or Saraswati Puja, is a Hindu festival that marks the arrival of spring and celebrates Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, wisdom, music, and arts. Celebrated on the fifth day (Panchami) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month of Magha (January-February), this festival is observed with great enthusiasm across India, particularly in educational institutions.

The word 'Vasant' means spring, and 'Panchami' refers to the fifth day of the lunar fortnight. This festival is considered highly auspicious for beginning new educational pursuits, learning music and arts, and initiating children into the world of learning (Vidyarambham). On this day, devotees worship Goddess Saraswati by placing books, musical instruments, and writing materials at her feet, seeking her blessings for knowledge and wisdom.

Vasant Panchami is celebrated with special fervor in educational institutions, where students worship their books and seek blessings for academic success. The festival is also significant in the agricultural calendar, as it marks the beginning of the spring season when mustard fields bloom with yellow flowers. People wear yellow clothes, prepare yellow-colored foods, and decorate their homes with yellow flowers to celebrate the vibrant season of spring.

Vasant Panchami holds immense significance in Hindu tradition as it celebrates Goddess Saraswati, the embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, learning, and the arts. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Saraswati was born on this day. The festival is considered the most auspicious day to begin any educational or artistic pursuit, as it is believed that Goddess Saraswati blesses devotees with knowledge, creativity, and eloquence.

The festival also marks the beginning of spring (Vasant Ritu), one of the six seasons in the Hindu calendar. Spring is associated with new beginnings, growth, and prosperity. The blooming of yellow mustard flowers symbolizes energy, vitality, and the awakening of nature. Yellow, the color of spring, is considered auspicious and is associated with knowledge, learning, and happiness.

Vasant Panchami is also significant for students and scholars, as it is believed that worshipping Goddess Saraswati on this day enhances intellectual abilities, improves concentration, and brings success in academic pursuits. Many parents choose this day to initiate their children into formal education through the Vidyarambham ceremony, where children are taught to write their first letters.

• Wearing yellow clothes and decorating homes with yellow flowers to celebrate the spring season
• Worshipping Goddess Saraswati by placing books, pens, and musical instruments at her feet
• Performing Saraswati Puja in schools, colleges, and educational institutions
• Initiating children into formal education through Vidyarambham or Akshar Abhyas ceremony
• Flying kites, especially in North India, as a traditional spring activity
• Preparing and eating yellow-colored foods like sweet rice (kesari bhaat), boondi, and sweets made with saffron
• Visiting Saraswati temples and participating in special puja ceremonies
• Chanting Saraswati mantras and reading sacred texts
• Offering yellow flowers, fruits, and sweets to Goddess Saraswati
• Organizing cultural programs featuring music, dance, and poetry recitals

Various items are offered to Goddess Saraswati during Vasant Panchami puja:

• Yellow flowers like marigold, chrysanthemum, and jasmine
• Yellow-colored sweets like boondi, ladoo, and kesari bhaat (sweet rice)
• Fresh fruits, especially yellow fruits like bananas and mangoes
• Books, pens, and writing materials to seek blessings for knowledge
• Musical instruments to seek blessings for artistic abilities
• Incense sticks and oil lamps for creating a sacred atmosphere