Festivals during Feb 2008 - Part 1.

February 1, 2008

Dear friends and devotees, Bhakti is eternal. Festivals during Feb 2008 Part 1. 1. Shree Panchami. (Magha sukla Panchami). 11.2.2008. This day is celebrated as the birthday of Saraswathi, the Goddess of Learning, She is the lily-white daughter of Shiva and Durga in spotless white robes and seated in a full-blown lotus. Her carrier is a snow-white swan. Her brother Ganesha, the elephant God, is invariably close at her side, and he receives animal

sacrifices in her stead. In her hands Saraswathi holds a book, a veena, and sometimes a great sword because of which many believe that she and Manjushree are one and the same. Shree panchami brings people of all castes, ages and creeds together to the temples of Divinity, especially to the idol behind Swayambhunath. The image is inundated with gifts, sweets, fruits, flowers in the hope of gaining Saraswathi blessings. As she rules over the realm of speech, letters, arts and sciences, students, scholars, writers, poets, artists, musicians and also spinners and weavers lavishly fete her. All her tools like pens, books, ink, etc. are also worshipped. According to popular belief, if a person

swallows seven rice grains, which are offered to the Goddess, he/she will become wise and knowledgeable. So, students and children clamor for the rice grains strewn around the idol. This is also the day when children of the age group of 5 to 7 are taught their first alphabet, which is repeated after the parent or teacher and traced on wooden slabs. And around the city numerous wedding processions followed by musicians and relatives can be seen, as this day is the most auspicious and popular day in the year for marriages, when the union is blessed by the Goddess Saraswathi herself. This day also coincides with the advent of spring. The ancient royal palace at Basantapur was first inaugurated in Kathmandu on Basant Panchami day with rites still officially commemorated at Hanuman Dhoka by the mid-morning gathering of hundreds of government officials, in formal attire and military officers laden with ribbons and medals. The King arrives in a motorcade, escorted by mounted cavalry officers and military band. Inside the old palace they all stand to attention through the strains of the traditional Song of spring. Then the season is inaugurated with gun salutes, while the royal priest conducts elaborate ceremonies in the honor of Goddess Saraswathi. 2. Vasantha Panchami. (Magha sukla Panchami) 11.2.2008 When the mustard fields turn yellow, it is the time for the spring festival Vasanta Panchmi. Falling on the fifth day

(panchami) of the waxing moon (sukhla paksha) in Magha (February) it is a festival which celebrates the arrival of spring and pays homage to Goddess Saraswathi the goddess of all knowledge and the art. Vasanta Panchami has been observed as a festival for worship of Saraswathi since the Vedic and Puranic age. It is believed that on this day Brahma created Saraswathi to dislodge the insipidity of the creation. By bestowing a Veena in her hands, he allotted the function of speech through her to the world. She was thus named as ``Veena Vandini” and ``Vani Daayani” (the Veena player and the giver of speech). It is by the grace of Saraswathi, that not only the human beings on earth, but also Devas, Gandharvas, yakshas and Asuras etc., are also made conversant with good behaviour, intelligence, brilliance, music, speech, poetry, and learns to differentiate between right and wrong. Therefore there is the tradition of the worship of Goddess Saraswathi on Vasantha Panchami festival. Sweet smelling flowers and powdered sandalwood are offered to the goddess as on this day. This is also considered an auspicious day, to begin anything related to knowledge and art. Traditionally it was on this day that great saints and teachers, admitted students in their schools. Many kings used to organize literary seminars and symposia on this occasion and poets, dramatists and writers would be felicitated and rewarded. Great dramas of Kalidasa and other dramatists would be performed before an audience on this festival. Sri Krishna also worshipped Saraswathi on this day by virtue of which he became an expert in the sixteen arts and in all others. Even in modern days, especially in Bengal it is on this day that children are made to start their education, so that they are blessed by Goddess Saraswathi. Manmatha the god of love and romance, and the one who also

represents the creative moral force is also invoked and worshipped on this day; Feasts are arranged in his honour. On this memorable day, Lord Shiva burnt Manmatha to ashes, by opening his third eye, while he tried to inspire Shiva with love. But on the intervention of his wife Rathi, and other Gods, Shiva allowed him to be reborn. He is shown riding a parrot, carrying a bow made of sugarcane, strung with a line of humming bees, and with it shooting the five darts of desire. He is accompanied by his wife Rathi and his friend Vasantha (Spring). In Punjab and the rest of North India, Vasantha Panchami is the festival, observed on a large scale. It is for the farmers, the time when the mustard crop is ripe. People wear yellow coloured garments. They cook yellow rice. The famous folk

dance ``Bhangra” of Punjab glorifies the congregations on this festival. This is a festival of jubilation when the farmers are rich with their yield. Vasantha in Kashmir. In Kashmir on Vasantha Panchami or spring festival, Yellow is considered the colour that represents this season. As yellow is believed to be a colour particularly acceptable to the sight of the gods in spring time, people dress themselves in yellow coloured

clothes on this day. At this period the Rajputs give themselves up to even greater license than usual in relation to food and drink, and even the most sedate people burst into songs in public a testimony to their praise of nature. Vasantha in Assam. The spring festival is specially

honoured by the forest tribes of Assam. It is as gay as a carnival and while it lasts, the women especially the young women enjoy unusual liberty. Many days before the actual festival, the young people in the villages may be seen moving about in groups, gaily dressed or forming circles, in the midst of which the prettiest girls dance with their long hair loose on their shoulders. The first day of the festival is devoted to exchanging visits, the next day is devoted to bathing and on the third day, the inhabitants of several groups of villages, old and young, meet at some appointed place, and gives themselves up to thorough enjoyment. (A collection) With love and regards, Sastry.

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