Hindus Celebrate Saraswati Puja on Shree Panchami Marking Arrival of Spring

Kathmandu. Today is Magh Shukla Panchami, also known as Shree Panchami. Hindu devotees are observing this day by sincerely worshipping and venerating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge.

Believed to mark the day the sun begins its northward journey lengthening the days and the onset of the spring season, today is also called 'Basanta Panchami'. As the goddess of knowledge and creativity, writers, artists, journalists, teachers, and students particularly worship and venerate their tools of art and learning—such as pens, notebooks, paintbrushes, and musical instruments—as manifestations of Saraswati. Tantrics consider Saraswati as Tara Devi for achieving success in Tantra.

It is also stated that great figures, from Vyasa, Valmiki, Yajnavalkya, Kanva, Panini, up to Shankaracharya and Saint Tulsidas, attained spiritual realization on this very day through the chanting of the 'Saraswati Kavach' mantra dedicated to the goddess who has thousands of names including Bharati, Saraswati, Sharada, Jagatmata, Vagishwari, Kaumari, Vardayini, and Kamadhenu.

Saraswati is considered the knower of knowledge and intellect; consequently, there is a tradition of initiating young children who have not yet started school into the world of letters on this day. It is believed that initiating literacy on the day of Saraswati worship brings knowledge. Acting on this belief, devotees have thronged Saraswati temples across the country, including Swayambhu, since early this morning.