New Delhi, Jan 26 (UiTV/IANS) – One of the well-known Indian festivities that marks the beginning of spring is Basant or Vasant Panchmi.
This holiday is also known as Saraswati Puja, which is a homage to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of gyan, or knowledge, art, and culture.
This blessed holiday is observed with much joy, enthusiasm, fervour, and devotion. Yellow costumes are worn by people to symbolise the mustard fields of Punjab and Haryana.
First-time students at the school are urged to write their first words in front of the Goddess Saraswati Puja on this day.
People tend to celebrate Basant Panchami in a variety of ways depending on the locality. For instance, many Hindus celebrate this auspicious event by honouring Goddess Saraswati, who is revered as the source of all creative energy and power.
Hindu mythology holds that Goddess Saraswati, a representation of skill, education, learning, and the arts, was born on this day. This is the rationale behind the devotion of Goddess Saraswati in various locations.
Celebrations in Punjab and Haryana
People in Punjab and Haryana fly kites to honour the festival’s spirit. Women cook delightful treats like Meethe Chawal, Makki ki roti, and Sarso ka saag in homes.
Celebrations in West Bengal
People in Bengal celebrate Saraswati Puja. The youngsters plan and carry out all of the puja ceremonial preparations on this particular day. After the puja is finished, they leave to have fun with their family. Even educational institutions like colleges and schools participate in the holiday by holding Saraswati Pujas. The men wear yellow dhotis and pyjamas, while the women typically wore yellow sarees. In addition to this, the people also make a variety of treats and sweets, including rajbhog and payesh.
Celebrations in Odisha
In Odisha, people perform puja and present fresh yellow flowers to Goddess Saraswati in temples on the day of Basant Panchami.
Celebrations in Assam
The Basant Panchami customs and rituals are carried out in Assam early in the morning. Most people start their days off early by cleaning their homes and performing other household duties, especially cleaning the shrine area. People change new garments and congregate for prayer once all the cleaning has been completed.
Basant Panchami Special Recipes

After a long winter, Basant Panchami, which ushers in spring, is usually observed as a time for fresh starts. As the start of the new season draws near, there is a festive vibe in the air. The happy and fortunate colour yellow is also associated with this occasion, which falls on January 26 this year.
Here are some must-try recipes during Basant Pachami:
Dhokla
This savoury Gujarati treat can be eaten for breakfast or as a snack. Gram flour, salt, turmeric powder, whipped curd, and baking powder are combined to make this straightforward recipe. It is seasoned with oil, mustard leaves, green chilies, curry leaves, and a concoction of water, sugar, salt, and lemon juice after steaming. Enjoy your meal while garnished with desiccated coconut and coriander leaves.
Sweet Rice
This dish is frequently referred to as meethe chawal or zarda, which is derived from the Persian word zard, which means “yellow” and refers to the colour of the food. Basmati rice that has been soaked is typically cooked with cardamom, cloves, saffron, and food colouring. Sugar, ghee, and roasted dry fruits are added after it is halfway done cooking, and this mixture is stirred until the sugar melts. Several chopped nuts are used as a garnish. Saffron can be used in place of the artificial food colouring.
Kanchipuram Idli
This meal emphasises elements that are often used for tempering, like cumin seeds, pepper, and curry leaves, giving the well-known idlis a spice-infused twist. Add dry ginger powder, turmeric powder, and coriander leaves to the standard idli batter. Saute the following ingredients in a hot pan: mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, pepper, cumin seeds, ginger, green chillies, and cashews. Use this combination to make the idlis by adding it to the batter. Typically, these come with coconut chutney.
Jaggery Kheer
This kheer can be of interest to you if you’re searching for a straightforward sweet meal. This is made with rice that has been boiled in milk with a dash of cardamom powder. Once the rice is cooked, crushed jaggery is added to the mixture. It is topped with dry fruits that have been sauteed in ghee as the jaggery melts and mixes with the concoction. This is thoroughly blended and served hot.
Kesari Halwa
This saffron-themed halwa is a melt-in-your-mouth confection. Semolina that has been roasted is cooked with water, saffron, and ghee. To intensify the orange tint, some people apply food colouring. After the semolina has fully cooked, sugar is added. The halwa is swirled until the sugar dissolves and thickens. Serve the sweet mixture hot after toasting some dry fruits and nuts in ghee till golden.