Basant Panchami: Yellow Colour Significance and Blending of Life and Learning

Basant Panchami: Yellow Colour Significance and Blending of Life and Learning

The color of Basant Panchami is yellow. In many Indian homes, the three deemed sacred colours are red, orange, and yellow - along with their combinations, are considered very holy. These colours can also be found in fire and in the rising and setting sun, which are seen as divine. Fire is important because it burns away impurities, symbolizing purity.

Additionally, the yellow color represents 3Ps: Positivity, Participation, and Purity, which are very important values. On Basant Panchami, many Hindus put a yellow turmeric 'tilak' on their foreheads on this special day and worship Goddess Saraswati to seek enlightenment through knowledge, arts and wisdom.

In many households, books, pens, and pencils are blessed by placing them near the image of Goddess Saraswati and sprinkling yellow flower petals over them. These blessed writing tools are used in a traditional ceremony called Akshar-Abhyasam, where children’s foreheads are smeared with yellow. Unfortunately, these customs are fading away in urban areas of India.

Saraswati Maa's Call to Unfold Divine Potential of Learning Lifelong: A Poem

White dress, bright face,

Goddess of learning's grace.

Saraswati Maa,

Show us the way.

Strive hard, she says,

Through all of your days.

Knowledge, a light,

Shining so bright.

Learn without end,

Be a true friend.

Life's lessons unfold,

Stories untold.

Don't use your skill wrong,

Make your spirit strong.

With art and with mind,

Be helpful and kind.

Speak softly and sweet,

Kind words you should meet.

Saraswati's call,

Blessing us all.