It’s Basant Panchami and festivity has gripped people across India, with devotees taking a holy dip in the river Ganga, Yamuna, Bhramputra and Narmada. Around 50 lakh pilgrims and devotees were due to take holy dip in Sangam at Prayag only.
Hindus worship goddess of knowledge, music, art and culture Saraswati Devi on the auspicious day. Basant Panchami, also famous as Saraswati Puja that falls on the fifth day of Magha (in early February) month of Hindu calendar, marks the start of spring (Vasant means Spring) and Holi season.
Capital Delhi is also busy celebrating Basant Panchami in its full fervour while in states such as Bihar, Jharkhand and Bengal, magnificent puja pandals are a common scene, with students and educational institutions seeking the blessings of mother goddess so that they can attain enlightenment.
Basant Panchami being a public holiday, government offices, schools and colleges do not operate on the day.