Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Shree Panchami is celebrated across the country today by worshipping Goddess Saraswati, the presiding deity of knowledge.

It is believed that worshipping Goddess Saraswati on the day of Basant Panchami will increase knowledge and wisdom. On this day, devotees throng the Saraswati Temple across the country to offer prayers. It is customary for young children who are not sent to school to start writing from this day. Today, there is a religious belief that teaching to read and write will lead to good education.

Devotees call Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, who is as fair as the moon and holds a veena and a book in her hand, by the devotees as Bharati, Sharada, Hansvahini, Jaganmata, Vagishwari, Kaumari, Varadayini, Buddhidattri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta and Bhuvaneshwari.

Being the goddess of knowledge and creation, especially litterateurs, artists, journalists, teachers and students worship their art and practice pens, notebooks, brushes and musical instruments as Saraswati, while tantrics worship Tara Devi for tantric accomplishment.

This day is also called ‘Basant Panchami’ with the belief that the day of the sun moves towards the north and the spring season begins. Saraswati Puja is of great importance as the worship of Brahmayani, the consort of Brahma, who is famous as Vagdevi in Rigveda, attains all kinds of knowledge, accomplishments and good intellect. In the Gandharva Purana, it is mentioned that by worshiping Goddess Saraswati on this day, one attains all accomplishments.

It is believed that on this day, there is no need to look for an auspicious time for social and religious activities like marriage, bratabandha, keeping caves and bel marriage. But this year, due to the setting of Venus, these good deeds are not done. On this day, children are given nose and ears piercings along with the beginning of education.

Devotees, especially boys, throng the temples of Goddess Saraswati at Swayambhu, Maitidevi, Neel Saraswati of Gairidhara, Lele of Lalitpur and other districts since early morning for worship. There is a religious belief that if one swallows the seven grains of akshata offered to Saraswati without touching it with the teeth, one gets the light of consciousness from Vidya Devi.

Vasant Shravan

On the occasion, it is customary for the President to listen to the Basanta Shrawan at Nasal Chowk of Hanumandhoka Durbar. Executive Director of Nepal Calendar Determination Development Committee, Laxman Panthi, said that President Ram Chandra Poudel has fixed the auspicious hour for 10.27 am on Friday to hear the Basanta Shrawan.