Vasant Panchmi celebration in Noida, India

© Burhaan Kinu/Hindustan Times via Getty Image

Offerings for the spring. Vasant Panchmi

Vasant Panchami, also known as Saraswati Puja, is an auspicious Hindu festival that marks the onset of spring in India. The associated festivities vary across regions within religions, with each community adding its own unique flavour to the celebration. The observance of the Vasant Utsava on Panchami itself is strategically timed, aligning with the belief that any season's transition period spans 40 days. For countless individuals, this occasion is a devoted celebration of the goddess Saraswati, revered as the embodiment of knowledge, language, music and different art representations. Goddess Saraswati stands as a symbol of creative energy and power in its myriad forms, encapsulating both the essence of longing and love. The exuberant celebration extends to culinary customs, where some infuse saffron into rice, creating a golden feast as part of the elaborate rituals.