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Basant Panchami 2024: Festival Date, History and Significance

Published Date: 09-Dec-2022

Basant Panchami, also known as Vasant Panchmi, is a Hindu festival that marks the arrival of spring. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Magh according to the Hindu calendar. The festival is also referred to as Saraswati Puja in many parts of the country and involves worshipping Goddess Saraswati. People dress in yellow, as the colour is considered auspicious and also represents the mustard fields of Punjab and Haryana. As Saraswati is worshipped as the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, art and culture, children are encouraged to write their first words in front of her idol, to seek her blessings.

Check Basant Panchami 2024 date, history, significance, how to celebrate, traditions, Pongal wishes, and places to observe.

Meaning of Basant Panchami

Vasant Panchami is dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, arts, science, music, and technology. We celebrate Basant Panchami to worship the Goddess Saraswati and to mark the arrival of the spring season.

Basant Panchami 2024 Date and Muhurat

Basant Panchami in 2024 will be celebrated on 14th February, Wednesday. Basant Panchami muhurat will be from 07:01 AM to 12:35 PM.

Basant Panchmi History and Significance

Basant Panchmi 2020

Basant Panchmi 2024

Goddess Saraswati, the deity of learning, music and art was considered to have been born on this day. To achieve wisdom and art from her, people celebrate Basant Panchami. The importance of Basant Panchami is that the day is very auspicious; people start new work, get married or start anything new on this day.

Story of Basant Panchami

The legend associated with the festival says that after Kalidasa was left by his wife, who was a beautiful princess, he planned to kill himself in despair. When he was about to commit suicide by drowning himself in a river, Goddess Saraswati emerged from the same waters and asked him to bathe in it.
When Kalidasa took a dip in the river its water gave him wisdom and he became a famous poet, celebrated throughout the world.

Basant Panchami Puja Vidhi

On this day, people decorate the idol of Goddess Saraswati in a yellow colour outfit. The deity is offered flowers, fruits, and sweets along with camphor and agarbatti. They then pray to the goddess for prosperity and knowledge. People recite Saraswati Vandana during the puja. Here is Basant Panchami mantra/ Saraswati Vandana:

Ya Kundendu Tusharahara Dhavala Ya Shubhra Vastravrita
Ya Veena Varadanda Manditakara Ya Shveta Padmasana
Ya Brahmachyuta Shankara Prabhritibhir Devaih Sada Pujita
Sa Mam Pattu Saravatee Bhagavatee Nihshesha Jadyapaha॥1॥

Shuklam Brahmavichara Sara, Parmamadyam Jagadvyapineem
Veena Pustaka Dharineema Bhayadam Jadyandhakarapaham।
Haste Sphatikamalikam Vidadhateem Padmasane Samsthitam
Vande Tam Parmeshvareem Bhagwateem Buddhipradam Sharadam॥2॥

Basant Panchami 2024 Celebrations across India

29-January-2020 | Basant Panchmi 2020

26-January 2024 | Basant Panchmi 2024

People all over India celebrate the day by wearing yellow-coloured clothes, eating and distributing sweets, decorating their homes with yellow flowers, exchanging Basant Panchami wishes, and much more. Some people also observe a fast for the whole day. Students all over the country offer their stationery to Saraswati, and it is customary to read or write that day.

Best Places to Observe During Basant Panchami 2024

  • In Punjab, the day involves flying kites that signify freedom and joy.
  • In Maharashtra, newlyweds offer their prayers at a temple, wearing yellow clothes, on their first Basant Panchami together.
  • In Rajasthan, people wear jasmine garlands to celebrate the day.
  • In West Bengal, artists worship their tools in front of Goddess Saraswati.

Check Out the Deepawali 2024 Date

Other Festivals in India with Holiday Type

Festivals in India Day Date Holiday Type
New Year’s Day Mon 01-Jan Restricted Holiday
Lohri Sat 13-Jan Restricted Holiday
Makar Sankranti Sun 14-Jan Restricted Holiday
Pongal Mon 15-Jan Restricted Holiday
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti Wed 17-Jan Restricted Holiday
Republic Day Fri 26-Jan Gazetted Holiday
Losar Sat 10-Feb Restricted Holiday
Basant Panchmi Wed 14-Feb Restricted Holiday
Guru Ravidas Jayanti Sat 24-Feb Gazetted Holiday
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti Wed 6-Mar Restricted Holiday
Mahashivratri Fri 8-Mar Gazetted Holiday
Holi Mon 25-March Gazetted Holiday
Good Friday Fri 29-Mar Gazetted Holiday
Easter Day Sun 31-Mar Restricted Holiday
Gudi Padwa Tue 9-Apr Restricted Holiday
Eid-ul-Fitr Wed 10-Apr Gazetted Holiday
Vaisakhi (Vishu) Sat 13-Apr Restricted Holiday
Rama Navami Wed 17-Apr Gazetted Holiday
Mahavir Jayanti Sun 21-Apr Gazetted Holiday
Rabindra Jayanti Wed 8-May Restricted Holiday
Buddha Purnima (Vesak) Thu 23-May Gazetted Holiday
Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) Mon 17-Jun Restricted Holiday
Rath Yatra Sun 7-Jul Gazetted Holiday
Muharram (Ashura) Wed 17-Jul Gazetted Holiday
Independence Day Thu 15-Aug Gazetted Holiday
Parsi New Year’s Day (Nauraz) Thu 15-Aug Public Holiday
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) Mon 19-Aug Restricted Holiday
Janmashtami Mon 26-Aug Restricted Holiday
Ganesh Chaturthi Sat 7-Sep Restricted Holiday
Onam Sun 15-Sep Restricted Holiday
Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e- Milad Mon 16-Sep Gazetted Holiday
Gandhi Jayanti Wed 02-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Dussehra Sat 12-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Valmiki Jayanti Thu 17-Oct Restricted Holiday
Karva Chauth Sun 20-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Dhanteras Tue 29-Oct Restricted Holiday
Diwali Thu 31-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Kali Puja Thu 31-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Lakshmi Puja Thu 31-Oct Gazetted Holiday
Halloween Day Thu 31-Oct No Holiday
Karnataka Rajyotsava Fri 1-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Kerala Piravi Fri 1-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Govardhan Puja Sat 2-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Bhai Dooj Sun 3-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Chhath Puja Thu 7-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Guru Nanak Jayanti Fri 15-Nov Gazetted Holiday
Christmas Wed 25-Dec Public Holiday

FAQs

Q. Is Basant Panchami good for marriage?

A. Yes, Basant Panchami is an auspicious day to get married or to start any new thing or phase in life.

Q. What is the date of Basant Panchami 2024?

A. Basant Panchami date 2024 is 14th February, Wednesday.

Q. Is Saraswati Puja a national holiday?

A. No, it’s an optional holiday.

Q. Why is Basant Panchami yellow?

A. The colour yellow on Basant Panchami signifies the brilliance of nature and the vibrancy of life.

Q. Can we eat onion on Basant Panchami?

A. There is nothing wrong with eating onion on Basant Panchami. However, some people avoid the use of onion and garlic in their food on Basant Panchami.

Sargun Preet Kaur
Sargun has an appetite for challenges and creative hurdles that can help her grow as she conquers them one by one. With an innate desire to travel the world, she weaves through life by visiting her dream destinations. When not in her creative zone, Sargun loves to smash in badminton and binge-watch her favourite shows.
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