Office of Student Affairs, Chitkara University, Punjab celebrates Basant Panchami

The Office of Student Affairs, Chitkara University, Punjab celebrated Basant Panchami on campus. The celebrations began with Saraswati Puja, a magnificent ceremony to honor the goddess of wisdom and ushering in the spring season. Dr. Archana Mantri, Vice-Chancellor, Chitkara University, began the puja ritual by applying tilak on the goddess and presenting flowers and prasad to the deity. Brig. Dr. P.S. Siwach, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Chitkara University, Punjab; Dr. S.C Sharma, Registrar, Chitkara University, Punjab and the Deans & Directors of several departments were also present for the ceremony.

A kite flying event was also organized for faculty members. Vasant Panchami or Saraswati Puja is very auspicious for the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and Wisdom. It is the time when mustard fields are at their full bloom with yellow flowers. Hence yellow is the color of the festival. The Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which occurs forty days later. Basant Panchami is predominantly celebrated in North India, particularly in Punjab, as a kite festival, however in Rajasthan, wearing a jasmine garland is the manner to commemorate this event in their customs. Panchami symbolizes the start of the spring season in India. Lord Brahma is said to have created the cosmos on this day, according to Hindu mythology. Aside from that, Saraswati Puja is observed in various regions of the nation since it is believed that Goddess Saraswati was born to Goddess Durga on this day.

Vasant means “spring” & Panchami means “the fifth day.” Vasant Panchami actually falls on the fifth day of spring. The festival celebrates Goddess Saraswati’s birthday and is celebrated as Saraswati Puja. Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning. It is one this day when the first-time learners are initiated to education (the ritual is known Akshar-Abhyasam or Vidya-Arambham). The Goddess is worshiped at all educational institutions. Apart from Sarawati Puja, this day is also celebrated by flying colorful kites to raise the zest and zeal of this day in North India. This tradition of flying kites was started by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Punjab some two hundred years ago.