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Vasant
Panchami, the Festival of Kites, falls on Panchami
of the Sukal Paksh ( Waxing moon) towards the
close of winter in the month of January-February.
The weather circle seems to be changing otherwise
Vasant used to bring a message of softness in
the weather in place of the hard cold season.
Vasant is the time when mustard fields are yellow
with it the spring is ushered in. So Punjabis
welcome the change and celebrate the day by
wearing yellow clothes, holding feasts and by
organising kite flying.
Vasant Panchami day puja is devoted to Saraswati,
the godess of learning and wife of Brahma. She
bestows the greatest wealth to humanity i.e.
the wealth of Knowledge.
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The
lady of the house dressed in yellow with zari
and gota on the dress, looking like Lakshmi,
the wife of Vishnu (a housewife is always alluded
to as Lakshmi and no other goddess) with the
chonp, bindi on the forehead and yellow and
red bangles on the arms, sets the trend for
everyone to become festive.
The puja is begun by the youngest girl present
by applying the teeka on everyone's forehead
and then, by turns, everyone sprinkling water,
aipun and roli by the third finger of the right
hand dipped in each liquid, by turn, holding
the finger each time by the thumb loosely and
then letting it go with a light jerk,',so as
to sprinkle the attached liquid onto the deity.
This is done three times with each liquid. The
rice and flowers are picked up by the fingers
and thumb and showered on to the gods. Everyone
puts a little colour onto the gods. The heralding
of summer begins with a bit of colour sprinkled
even today (before Holi) on the gods. The lady
of the house then takes a few bers, some sangaris
and a laddoo and a paan (the same paan along
with the nariyal can be given to everyone since
paan is now a very expensive item) and gives
them to each member present. This activity can
be done in two instalments as it is difficult
to hold all these items at one time. The receiver
takes the offerings in both hands and touches
them to the giver his or her forehead and returns
these items to the giver, but from the second
instalment, he or she must take one or two items
at least and eat them in the puja room.
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