Vasant Panchami
, Vasant Panchami also known as Saraswati Puja or Sri Panchami, is a Hindu spring festival and the most important holiday of the goddess Saraswati.
Importance
The importance of Hindu festivals is often intertwined with the seasons. A particularly striking example of this is Vasant Panchami, the beginning of the Spring ( Vasant ) marks. On the fifth day ( Panchami ) of the Hindu month of Magha (in a modern calendar January / February), people celebrate this festival with different customs in many parts of India - especially in the east of the subcontinent.
Saraswati
Saraswati is one of the most popular Hindu goddesses. The iconography shows middle of a lake, the primeval waters, which is interpreted, among others, as a symbol of the beginning of creation. She stands or sits in a lotus flower, as well as a sign of wisdom as well as their beauty. As a companion animal act a goose or a swan, sometimes the peacock. The characteristic color is a bright white.
Hindu scholars recognize their significance to the word meaning of her name: " Sarah " is the water, and " Saraswati " is interpreted as "shining river " or " Flowing ". Light and bright embodies Saraswati but also the power of the sun. This is not only hinted at the biological, life -giving force, but also on knowledge and enlightenment, because one of their names is Mahavidiya, wisdom. The book in the left hand lets in her well recognize the mistress of the scriptures, the patroness of all learners as well as those who teach. As Vac (word), so another name of the goddess, she embodies the Word personified, the perfect speech. As most striking character it holds the vina in her hands, an ancient, still frequently played stringed instrument. Thus, it presents itself not only as a patroness of music and all arts: According to old beliefs, the goddess of the Urton brings it forth, the Om, from whose vibrations according to Hindu philosophy, the creation has emerged.
The Rigveda, the oldest of the Hindu scriptures, Saraswati first describes as flow or river goddess. Other verses in turn they refer to as " exalted among the gods " or "highest among the mothers ." Puranische writings know it as the consort of Brahma, which in the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity, the task of creation belongs ( Brahma is represented male, not to be confused with the impersonal, formless Brahman ). This seems subordinate; but in practice the worship mainly applies her while the worship of Brahma is largely extinct.
The Feast
On her feast day, people celebrate not only the biological fertility of the Goddess, which is visible to Vasantpanchami, the beginning of the Indian Spring: The creative power is evident in all its aspects, in science and performing arts as well as in music and literature.
Weeks before artisans large and small figures here, usually made of clay or plaster, which you can then buy all markets and on street corners. These are the believers in their homes or built for this festival street altars. A priest comes and revered Saraswati Puja in a ritual, the worship. Is the statue at first only a decorated plaster figure, a simple image, so goes the believer believes in the " Pran - Dan " ceremony (ie, life - giving ceremony ) a ritual conversion itself: The priest touched with a tuft of grass and some rice grains, the heart area of the statue. For this purpose it prescribed mantras, which they deemed to be "alive", as present in the portrait ( very similar to the " conversion " in the Eucharist of the Catholic Church ). According to the Hindu view, the formless divine is present in this vibrant manifestation of the goddess.
However, it should not necessarily have to be a statue of the goddess on the altar, for the representation of the divine in anthropomorphic form is a relatively late development in Hinduism. Just as well, one of their typical attributes show their presence, such as a clay, old-fashioned inkwell, a writing instrument such as a " spring " from a piece of sharpened bamboo or her mystical instrument, the vina.
Vasant Panchami to be on the Indian subcontinent the most diverse holiday customs find, as well as the importance of the Goddess is not the same for all Hindus. But almost all women wear on that day if possible yellow saris, yellow as the now blooming mustard seeds in the fields. And all kinds of sports have high season.
Especially artists and spiritual work end contact on this important holiday of Saraswati: pupils, students and teachers as well as musicians, painters, writers and journalists. They lay their utensils of the saint 's feet - books, notebooks, pens, and brushes - and ask for their special blessing. Especially in Bengal, it is the custom for young children write on this day the first time in her life a letter. Others write with "white ink " ( milk) benedictions or Om in their books.
Students worship the goddess but not just at home on the altar. In schools and universities to build together every year to small or large altars. Not infrequently formed to a mountain and decorated it with white cotton buds as snow, as the Goddess is said to come from the snowy mountains of the Himalayas. Very often build young men and boys also different variations of ships for Saraswati with whom she visits her faithful according to tradition. Then the priest celebrates summoned on behalf of all a church, where a joyful celebration with music, dance and shared food follows. For this you usually also invites those classmates and students who are not Hindus.
In eastern India, the enthusiasm for the goddess is particularly large. Many households make statues or effigies on, call a priest or even cause their ceremonies. Also clubs, neighborhood groups or other groups build together large and small worship places in the courtyards and streets, often must be diverted even the road for it. After the religious rites of the people sitting in the evening in front of the stage with the goddess and take part in cultural events with music and dance.
On the second day we passed the goddess ritual, wearing the now lifeless sculpture in processions with cheers and loud music to the river - where it sinks into the water.