Sri Panchami, also called Vasant Panchami, is the festival of Goddess Saraswati, the giver of knowledge, speech and the arts. Families worship the Goddess along with books and pens, and many children begin their education with Aksharabhyasam – above all at the Gnana Saraswathi temple in Basara.
Festival Dates
Introduction
Sri Panchami – also called Vasant Panchami or Vasantha Panchami – falls on Magha Shukla Panchami, the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Magha, usually in late January or February. It is the festival of Goddess Saraswati, the giver of knowledge, wisdom, speech, music and the arts, and it also welcomes the season of spring (vasanta). In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana it is above all the day of Aksharabhyasam, when young children write their first letters in the presence of the Goddess.
Significance and Legend
According to tradition, Sri Panchami is the day of Goddess Saraswati's appearance, and it is celebrated as her Jayanti. The Puranas praise this day as the most auspicious for beginning learning (vidyarambha), and the Brahma Vaivarta Purana is often cited for the worship of Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. Saraswati is the consort of Lord Brahma, seated on a white lotus with the veena, a book and a rosary in her hands, and her swan stands for the wisdom to tell the true from the false. Students, teachers, writers, musicians and artists pray to her for a clear mind, a good memory and the light of knowledge.
How it is Celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
- Aksharabhyasam: parents bring their young children – usually between about two and five years of age – to write their first letters, often "Om" and the first letters of the alphabet, on rice or a slate, guided by a priest or an elder.
- Basara: the Sri Gnana Saraswathi Temple at Basara on the Godavari is the most celebrated place for Aksharabhyasam in the Telugu states. On Vasantha Panchami the rituals begin in the early hours, and families come in very large numbers from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
- Vargal: the Sri Vidya Saraswathi temple on a hillock at Wargal (Vargal) in Siddipet district – whose foundation stone was laid on Vasantha Panchami – also celebrates the festival every year and draws large numbers of families for Aksharabhyasam.
- At schools and at home: students worship the Goddess with their books, pens and musical instruments, and many schools hold a Saraswati puja.
Rituals and Puja
- After an early bath, Lord Ganesha is worshipped first, and then Goddess Saraswati.
- The Goddess is adorned with white and yellow flowers, sandalwood and kumkum, and books, pens and instruments are placed before her for her blessing.
- The Saraswati prayer "Saraswati namastubhyam varade kamarupini…" and the Saraswati Ashtottaram are recited.
- Giving books, clothes and food in charity (danam) is considered meritorious on this day.
Foods and Offerings
- Payasam and other sweets offered as naivedyam.
- White and yellow flowers; yellow is the colour of the spring season and is widely worn on this day.
- Fruits, turmeric and kumkum.
Temples Known for this Festival
- Sri Gnana Saraswathi Temple, Basara – the most sought-after place for Aksharabhyasam in the Telugu states; on Vasantha Panchami special abhishekams begin in the early hours and thousands of children write their first letters.
The Sri Vidya Saraswathi temple at Wargal (Vargal), Siddipet district, Telangana, is also much loved for Aksharabhyasam on this day. The Goddess of learning is honoured again during Navaratri – see Dasara / Devi Navaratri.
The Sri Panchami date is shown in the festival dates above. It falls on Magha Shukla Panchami as per the Telugu panchang.