What are some of the unknown facts about Saraswati Puja?

Basant Panchami, refers to the religious Hindu festival also called Saraswati Puja, Shree Panchami and the Sufi Basant observed in Sufi shrines. The seasonal spring festival of Basant Panchami is observed in several regions. The Basant Festival of Kites of the Punjab region; is also observed in Gurdwaras as a Sikh festival; the birthday of the Deo-Sun God in Bihar and is also called a harvest festival. The festivals are celebrated on the 5th day of Magha month (thus called as Panchami. Basant Panchami is celebrated annually on the 5th day of the bright half of the Indian month of Magha.

In ancient Indian literature, Shree Panchami is associated with Shringara Rasam and the festival was celebrated in this custom. Celebrations nowadays still honor Kamadeva, his wife Rati, and his friend Basant (the epitome of spring). People worship Maa Saraswati (Hindu Goddess) to get enlighten with wisdom, intelligence and knowledge and to get rid of lethargy, sluggishness and lack of knowledge. This ritual of initiating education to children is referred as Vidya-Arambham/Praasana or Akshar-Abhyasam which is one of the most popular rituals of Basant Panchami. Colleges and Schools arrange Saraswati puja in the morning to seek blessing of the Goddess. Purvahna Kala, which is the period between the sunrise and the midday, is considered to choose Basant Panchami day. Basant Panchami or Saraswati puja is celebrated on the day when Panchami Tithi carries the day during Purvahna Kala. Owing to which the festival might also fall on Chaturthi Tithi.

Many astrologers consider Basant Panchami as Abujha day which is very very auspicious to start all shubh kaam( good work). According to this belief whole day is auspicious to perform Saraswati Puja. Even though there is no special time to perform this Puja, one should make sure that festival is celebrated when Panchami Tithi is prevailing. A lot of time Panchami Tithi doesn't prevail whole of the day on this day hence we believe that it is significant to do Saraswati puja within Panchami Tithi.

Saraswati Vandana

या कुन्देन्दुतुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना। या ब्रह्माच्युत शंकरप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ॥

The day is the first and minor of two spring-themed festivals in Hindu beliefs. Basant Panchami initiates the spring festive cycle and heralds its synopsis that occurs with Holi. The 40-day phase between Basant Panchami and Holi corresponds with the 40 days of Rati's penance after her husband; Kamadeva was turned to ashes for shooting the eye of Lord Mahadeva (Shiva) with his love arrows. Between Basant Panchami and Holi, essential preparations are made for burnings in effigy of the demoness Holika. A log with a figure of Holika is placed in a public place and during the next forty days, the faithful add twigs and other flammable wooden material to the log to form a pyre which is lit on the festival of Holi. In shrines such as Balarama temple in Baithain, the singing of Holi songs and the throwing of color begin on Shree Panchami and continue throughout the Holi season.

Muslim community has been celebrating Basant since the 12th century A.D. According to legend Delhi's Chishti Saint Nizamuddin Aulia's young nephew Taqiuddin Nooh died in this month. Stricken with grief, he withdrew from community. The famous court poet, Amir Khusrau, tried to think of ways to brighten the Saint's mood. Upon seeing local women carrying yellow flowers on this occasion and dressed in yellow, Khusrau too dressed in yellow and took flowers to the Saint. This brought a smile on the Saint's face. Since then, Basant has been celebrated at the dargah of Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi and all dargah's of the Chishti order.

For Sikhs, on the day of Basant Panchmi, in the Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, musicians start the music by singing Basant Raga. This music practice continues up until the 1st day of Vaisakh when Basant Rag is no longer used.

A fair is normally held at the popular Sikh shrine of Guru-ka-Lahore in Bilaspur district to mark the special festival of the marriage of Guru Gobind Singh Ji on Basant Panchami. Later Maharaja Ranjit Singh encouraged the Basant celebration in the Gurdwara. In 1825 A.D. he gave 2,000 rupees to the Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara in Amritsar to celebrate the festival and distribute food.

The seasonal aspects of the occasion are more significant in Northern part of India due to the sharper contrast between the spring and the winter. Folks celebrate the day by eating sweet dishes, wearing yellow and decorating yellow flowers like marigold in homes. In Rajasthan, it is customary or essential for the people to wear jasmine garlands.