The Hindu holiday of Vasant Panchami marks the end of Winter and the first day of Spring. The color yellow has special significance during this festival, representing new blossoms and the vibrancy of all life, and kites are flown by families and in competitions. Vasant Panchami is celebrated on the 5th day of the Indian month of Magh, which is tomorrow: January 28, 2012.
This day is also honored as the birthday of the Goddess Sarasvati. The story is told that after Brahma created the universe, he listened and felt that it was much too quiet. So he created Sarasvati, whose playing of the veena brought forth sound from all that had been created before. Sarasvati blessed the universe with music, voice and all types of sound. She is also Goddess of all the arts and of the flow of knowledge and creativity.
"May Goddess Saraswati,
who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,
and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;
who is adorned in radiant white attire,
on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,
and whose throne is a white lotus;
who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me."
(Traditional Sanskrit prayer. Photo by Durga Kundu)
