Basanta Panchami is being celebrated by worshiping Saraswati

Kathmandu. The ‘Shree Panchami’ festival celebrated on the day of Magh Shukla Panchami is being celebrated today by faithfully worshiping Goddess Saraswati, the presiding deity of education.

Devotees also call Saraswati as Bharati, Sharada, Hansabahini, Jaganmata, Bagishwari, Kaumari, Bardayini, Buddhidatri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta and Bhubaneswari.

As she is the goddess of knowledge and creation, especially writers, artists, journalists, teachers and students worship their objects of art, such as pens, copies, kuchi and musical instruments, as Saraswati. Saraswati is considered by the Tantrics as the Tara Devi for Tantra Siddhi.

This day is also called ‘Basanta Panchami’ with the belief that the day will be longer and the spring season will start as the sun moves north. In the Rig Veda, it is mentioned that the worship of Brahmayani, the half-brother of Brahma, popularly known as Wagdevi, brings all kinds of knowledge, perfection and wisdom.

That is why Saraswati worship is given great importance. Today, it is believed that one can attain perfection by worshiping Saraswati.

It is believed that one should not visit the site to perform social and religious activities such as marriage, fasting, cave keeping and bel marriage. This year, as Venus sets, marriages and fasts are not performed on this festival. This day is also considered auspicious for educating children and piercing their noses and ears.

Devotees, especially students, have been flocking to the temples of Swayambhu, Maitidevi and Nilsaraswati in Gairidhara, Lele in Lalitpur and other districts. There is a religious belief that the light of consciousness is obtained from the Goddess Bidya by the vibration of knowledge and wisdom in the seven nuts of innocence offered to Saraswati. On this occasion Basanta is heard in Hanumandhoka Durbar.