Vasant Panchami

Festival falling on the fifth day
(panchami) of the bright (waxing) half
of the lunar month of Magh
(January–February), celebrated as the
first day of spring (vasant). This day is
considered sacred to the goddess
Saraswati, patron deity of the arts,
music, and learning. In her honor, celebrants sing songs in melodic modes
(ragas) associated with spring. Given
Saraswati’s connection with learning,
this is also traditionally reckoned as the
day on which young children should
begin their studies.
Vasant Panchami is also associated
with Kama, the god of love, since the
coming of spring brings the reappearance of flowering plants, with their
scents and colors. This is supposedly
the day that Kama attempts to instill
erotic desire in the god Shiva’s heart,
first by bringing spring to Mount
Kailas, where Shiva is meditating, and
then shooting Shiva with one of his
flower arrows. Shiva awakens from his
meditation, becomes angry at Kama,
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Vasant Panchami
and reduces him to ashes with a burst
of flame from his third eye. Despite
being destroyed, in the end Kama is
successful—after being awakened,
Shiva becomes aware of Parvati’s
ascetic practice and eventually becomes
her husband.