KATHMANDU: On the occasion of ‘Shree Panchami’, the religious festival celebrated every year on the fifth day of the waxing moon in the month of Magh, devotees throng to Saraswati temples across the country to worship Saraswati.

Also on the occasion, Saraswati Puja is being observed across the country by worshiping Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, wisdom, learning, music and all arts.

Students visit their schools and temples to seek the blessings of Goddess Saraswati on this day, which is also known as Shree Panchami or Basanta Panchami. It is believed that one is blessed with knowledge and wisdom if one performed a devoted worship of Saraswati on this day.

On this occasion, crowds of devotees could be seen from early in the morning at various large and small Saraswati temples in the capital, including the Neel Saraswati Temple in Lazimpat and the Saraswati Temple at Swoyambhu, Dillibazar, and Saraswati Kunda at Lele of Lalitpur.

Similarly, it has been reported that there is also a crowd of devotees at Saraswati temples throughout the country.

As Saraswati is taken as the muse of knowledge and creativity, especially writers, artists, journalists, teachers and students worship the tools and articles used in their respective arts such as pens, notebooks, brushes and musical instruments as representations of Saraswati.

The Tantric practitioners worship Saraswati as ‘Tara Devi’ for attaining Tantra perfection.

Today is also called ‘Basanta Panchami’ as it marks the movement of the sun to the northern hemisphere with the days becoming longer and the beginning of the Basanta Ritu or the spring season.

There is also the belief that one need not determine an appointed ‘auspicious time’ to perform various social and religious rituals as marriages, coming-of-age ceremony, bel bibaha (Ihi) and others on the day of Basanta Panchami.

On this day, it is considered auspicious to begin a child’s education and even to pierce their nose or ears for the first time.

Many parents also begin their children’s education on Saraswati Puja by urging them to write their first words as it is considered the most auspicious day to start learning. They take their children to temples and teach them to write on the temple walls.

President, Vice President offer best wishes on Shree Panchami
Meanwhile, President Ramchandra Paudel and Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav have extended best wishes to all the Nepali sisters and brothers and students at home and abroad on the occasion of the Basanta Panchami festival today.

President Paudel said that today’s Basant Shrawan and Saraswati Puja are not merely formalities but also an opportunity to keep our lives always energetic and encourage us towards new discoveries.

“The natural significance of Basanta Panchami is equally important. As it marks the beginning of the spring season and days grow longer while nights shorten with the sun moving northwards, gradually warming up from the cold, this festival reflects the closeness of Nepali life to nature and I feel that today inspires as a day of association with learning and the fulfilment of knowledge,” reads the President’s message.

Similarly, Vice President Yadav has wished for joy, peace and prosperity in the life of every Nepali on the occasion of Basanta Panchami festival.