It is that time of the year again. The cold weather is slowly taking the form of a pleasant and plentiful spring. Blooming flowers, ripe fruits and green fields, this is the reason why spring is also called the king of all seasons. Different communities and countries around the world have different ways of celebrating the change in seasons. In India, which also happens to be an agro-based economy, the spring season plays a big role in the agricultural and harvesting calendar and naturally there are special ways to welcome spring. Basant Panchami it’s spring festival It is celebrated with pomp all over the country. Basant Panchami It is celebrated every year on the fifth day of Magh (a month in the Hindu calendar) and is celebrated in a unique way for each community. The word ‘Basant’ means spring and ‘Panchami’ refers to the fifth day on which the festival falls. It is also called by this name Vasant Panchami. Bengalis across the country celebrate ‘Saraswati Puja’ on this auspicious day and many traditional dishes are also prepared and liked by many.
(Also read:Basant Panchami 2022: 5 Yellow Sweets to Celebrate (Recipe Inside),
Importance of Saraswati Puja
Saraswati Puja is one of the most important festivals for the Bengali community, the preparations for which start several days in advance. Clay idols of goddess holding Veena (a musical instrument, Houses and temples are installed in the courtyard. Saraswati idols are decorated with beautiful clothes and accessories, the courtyards are artistically decorated alpinas (Rangoli made of rice flour). Prasad is offered to the goddess. Fresh yellow and white flowers and fruits like jujube are some of the offerings which are liked by the deities. On the auspicious day, students also place their books at the feet of the idol to seek his blessings. In Hindu belief, Goddess Saraswati is considered the goddess of wisdom, knowledge, arts and culture. There is a popular ritual to introduce children to writing on the divine occasion of Saraswati Puja.
Why don’t people eat ber or kool before Saraswati Puja?
Saraswati Puja is a celebration of spring, art, culture and new beginnings. To welcome the beautiful spring in all its splendor, festivals use popular symbols and motifs. The color of Basant (spring) is yellow, also known as ‘Basanti’ colour. It is a symbol of prosperity, light, energy and optimism. This is the reason why people wear yellow colored clothes and cook traditional dishes in yellow colour.
Another common ritual that Bengalis follow is their first jujube fruit which is also called Kool (Bengali) or Hit(Hindi), of the season on the day of Saraswati Puja. actually eat Hit It is considered inauspicious before Saraswati Puja and is avoided. Hit or cool It is one of the most widely cultivated fruits of the spring season and many other deities like Goddess Saraswati and Lord Shiva are very fond of the fruit. so only when plum (known as) Hit fruit) is offered to the goddess Prayer, Doing Bengali Start eating delicious fruits. cool or Hit eaten later Offering Some people also prepare delicious dishes during the community dinner held in the afternoon/evening Cooler Achari, It is a sweet, sour and spicy pickle made from Indian berries. These sour berries are eaten as a sweet chutney or made into a sweet-not-sour pickle using jaggery as gram flour. sweet rice,Khichdi, Begini (eggplant dumplings), labra( mixed vegetable), royalty And Payesh: Some other dishes eaten during Saraswati are: Prayer festival.
Happy Saraswati Puja 2018 everyone!
About Sushmita SenguptaSharing a strong penchant for food, Sushmita loves all things good, cheesy and greasy. Apart from discussing food, her other favorite pastime activities include reading, watching movies and binge watching TV shows.
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