Vasanta Panchami
Vasanta Panchami, sometimes referred to as Saraswati Puja, Shree Panchami, or the Basant Festival of Kites is a Sikh and Hindu festival held on the fifth day of Magha (in early February) marking the start of spring and the Holi season. On this day Hindus worship Saraswati Devi, the goddess of knowledge, music, art and culture.
People worship Goddess Saraswati to get enlighten with knowledge and to get rid of lethargy, sluggishness and ignorance. Traditionally during this festival children are taught to write their first words. This ritual of initiating education to children is known as Akshar-Abhyasam or Vidya-Arambham/Praasana which is one of the famous rituals of Vasanta Panchami. Schools and colleges arrange pujas in the morning to seek blessing of the Goddess.
Vasanta Panchami is the first and more minor of two spring-themed festivals in Hindu culture. Vasanta Panchami initiates the spring festive cycle and heralds its summation that occurs with Holi.The seasonal aspects of the festival are more significant in Northern India due to the sharper contrast between the winter and the spring,however the festival's religious and cultural significance are emphasized across all celebrating regions. In ancient Indian literature, Vasanta Panchami is associated with Shringara Rasam and the festival was celebrated in this tradition.Celebrations today still honor Kamadeva, his wife Rati, and his friend Vasant (the personification of Spring).
Purvahna Kaal, which falls between late morning and early afternoon, is considered to decide Vasanta Panchami day. Vasanta Panchami is celebrated on the day when Panchami Tithi prevails during Purvahna Kaal. Due to which Vasanta Panchami might also fall on Chaturthi Tithi.
Vasanta Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the Indian month of Magh (spring season, January to February).It is celebrated as Saraswati Puja primarily over eastern parts of India, and as Sri Panchami in other parts of Bengal.In the Punjab region, Basant is celebrated as the Basant Festival of Kites: kite festivals are held in cities such as Firozpur. In terms of its cultural significance, the festival has been compared to Chinese New Year and the Christian Candlemas, with the subsequent 40-day stretch between Vasanta Panchami and Holi compared to the Christian Lenten season.
Veda Vyasa, collected the Vedic Texts of prayer under the Rig Veda, the Vedic texts of rituals under the Yajur Veda, the musical form of the Vedic texts under the Sama Veda and such of the Vedic texts that dispelled dangers and annihilated enemies under the Atharvana Veda.