Utsa

Vasant Panchami (Hindi: वसन्त पञ्चमी), sometimes referred to as Saraswati Puja,... more

by Sonali Gangane

Title

Utsa

Artist

Sonali Gangane

Medium

Painting - Watercolor On Strathmore Paper

Description

Vasant Panchami (Hindi: वसन्त पञ्चमी), sometimes referred to as Saraswati Puja, Shree Panchami, or the Festival of Kites is a Sikh and Hindu festival held on the fifth day of Magha (in early February) marking the start of spring and the Holi season. On this day Hindus worship Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, art and culture.Ritu (Sanskrit: ऋतुः) means "season" in the Hindu calendar, and there are six ritus (also transliterated rutu) or Indian seasons. The word is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Rtu, a fixed or appointed time, especially the proper time for sacrifice (yajna) or ritual in Vedic Religion; this in turn comes from the word Rta (ऋत), as used in Vedic Sanskrit literally means the "order or course of things".
The streets of India and Asia were filled with colors this weekend as Hindus participated in the Holi Festival, which marks the start of spring.
The Holi festival, which is also known as the festival of colors, is marked by thousands of Hindus filling the streets and throwing colored powder at each other. One of the major Hindu celebrations, the Holi Festival symbolizes new hopes and joys for all.
The colored powder is called gulal and is thrown into the air coating everyone, and everything, it touches. The colors symbolize unity, freedom, and the color of everyday life.
Dharma Sindhu and Nirnaya Sindhu, Sanskrit texts of festive rituals and dharma shastras says morning of holi should be spent joyfully by playing with cows and calves; Holika dahan should be performed after evening.
Having constructed a platform hallowed with ‘Go Maya’ (cow dung) one should arrange a stack of sticks with Agni and perform Holika Puja with the ‘Sankalpa’ and ‘Aavaahana’ of
"Sakutumbasya mama Dhundhaa Rakshasi preetyartham tatpeedaa parihaa –raartham Holikaa pujanam karishye/ ---Asmaadbhirbhayasantrastaih krutaatwam Holikeyatah, Atastwaam Pujayishyaami bhutabhuti pradaabhava!" (As were afraid of you Holika Devi! we seek your compassion and thus are resorting to shodashopachaaraas to you. Do kindly show us fearlessness and prosperity!)
The mantras addressing Holika Devi state that the ten days from Panchami and Purnima are quite propitious and during these days even stealing of ‘Indhana’ or fire-wood ignored to celebrate Holi fire on the Purnima Day when throwing of water, smearing on other’s faces with colours and using of indecent language etc., are ignored as gestures of friendship especially with neighbours and friendship circles; there would be group singing, dances and exravaganza of merriment all through the day and night. This is how the Raakshasi Holika would be satisfied.
Next morning, a Chandaala is touched before taking bath and after carrying out nitya karmaas, Holika Devi be greeted and take up one’s own duties so that the year ahead would be devoid of diseases, difficulties and mental problems.
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Thanks for viewing.2013©Sonali T. Gangane

Uploaded

March 27th, 2013