Venkat Raman
Auckland, February 1, 2021
At 69 Tidal Road, Mangere on February 16 from 630 pm
‘Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam,’ located at 69 Tidal Road in Mangere, will celebrate ‘Vasant Panchami’ incorporating Special Prayers for Goddess Saraswathi, the Goddess of Knowledge on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 from 630 pm.
A first for the Temple
Ilango Krishnamoorthy, Treasurer of the New Zealand Hindu Temple Society which owns and manages the Temple and Priest Mani Gurukkal said that the Programme will include Invocation of the Blessings of Ganesha as per tradition and Abhishekam, Arathanai and other observances to the Deity of Goddess Saraswathi, concluding with Maha Prasadam.
“While Saraswathi Pooja forms a part of the Navaratri Celebrations (which will be observed this year from October 7 to October 15, 2021), Vasant Panchami is of great significance to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains as it heralds the arrival of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in India. Saraswathi is the Goddess of Enlightenment and as such, removes ignorance and showers Her Blessings on devotees. This will be first time that Vasant Panchami Temple will be celebrated at our Temple,” they said.
Further details regarding the Programme and Sponsorships will be announced shortly.
Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam is among a few Temples in New Zealand that have an exclusive place of worship of Goddess Saraswathi.
About Vasant Panchami
Vasant (or Basant) Panchami, called ‘Sri Panchami’ in South India, featuring Saraswathi Pooja is a Festival celebrated by people in different ways in various States of India and around the world. It also symbolises the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which take place about forty days later (March 28, 2021).
Vasant Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the Hindu Lunisolar calendar month of Magha (Masi in Tamil), which typically occurs in February.
Hindus see Goddess Saraswathi as a symbol of Creative Energy and Power in all its forms. Vasant Panchami also celebrates harvest in agriculture, ripening with yellow flowers of mustard crop, which Hindus associate with Her favourite Colour. People dress in yellow sarees or shirts or accessories, share yellow-coloured snacks and sweets. Some add saffron to their rice and then consume yellow-cooked rice as a part of an elaborate feast.
The Festival around India and Asia
In Bihar, West Bengal and other Eastern and North-Eastern States of India such as Tripura and Assam, and in Nepal, people visit Temples and worship Goddess Saraswathi.
In the state of Odisha (30 Jan this year), the Festival is celebrated as Basanta Panchami.
In the Southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, the Festival is known as ‘Sri Panchami,’ with ‘Sri’ denoting an aspect Goddess Durga.
In Gujarat, Vasant Panchami is associated with the emotions of love with preparation of bouquet and garlands of flowers set with mango leaves as a gift. People dress in saffron, pink or yellow and visit each other. Songs about Krishna’s pranks with Radha, considered to mirror Kama-Rati, are sung.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi are worshiped on this day with Mango flowers and ears of wheat in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.
In Bangladesh, Vasant Panchami is an optional holiday.
On the Island of Bali and the Hindus of Indonesia, it is known as ‘Hari Raya Saraswati’ (Great Day of Saraswathi), marking the beginning of the 210-day long Balinese Pawukon Calendar.
The Festival in Sikhism
Sikhs have historically celebrated Vasant Panchami to mark the beginning of Spring, by wearing yellow clothes, emulating the bright yellow mustard flowers in the fields.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire, encouraged the celebration of Vasant Panchami as a social event in the Gurdwaras.
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