Harbinger of Spring – 2023

Yesterday, i.e. 26th January 2023 was a day of double celebrations.

On this day every year we celebrate as Republic Day – the day on which the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950 replacing the Government of India Act, 1935, as the governing document of the country, thereby, establishing the Republic of India separate from the British Raj. The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949 and came into effect on 26th January 1950. 26th January was chosen as Republic Day because on this day in 1930 Indian National Congress had proclaimed the Declaration of Indian Independence. India got independence on 15th of August 1947. Yesterday was our 74th Republic Day.

Yesterday was also Basant or Vasant Panchami , the fifth day of the month Magha of lunisolar calendar which earmarks the preparation of arrival of King of all Seasons – the Spring. the Vasanta Utsava or Spring Festival is celebrated forty days before Spring as it takes forty days for any season to come into full bloom.

In Northern part of India it is still winter while in Central, Eastern and Western parts of India Spring almost sets in. Every region celebrates this day in its own way. It is a Hindu Festival. Sikhs celebrate it too. On this day everyone dresses in yellow to mark the ripening of the yellow flowers of the mustard crop.

We Bengalis celebrate the Saraswati Puja on this day. Saraswati is the Goddess of Knowledge and Creativity. She is draped in white which symbolizes purity in its highest form. She holds the Veena, a musical instrument similar to the Sitar, on one hand and gives her blessings with the other hand. On this day we keep all our books, copies, note books and text books at her feet to seek her blessings.

We worship the beautiful deity with flowers and mantras. The mantras are repeated after the priest with flowers in hand. This is known as Pushpanjali. Later we partake of the Bhog Prasaad which generally consists of khichdi made up of yellow lentil and rice, pakoras or deep fried vegetables marinated in thick chick pea floor, laabra, a very tasty vegetable curry, sweet and tangy tomato chutney and paayesh made of condensed and sweetened milk and rice. The making of Maha Bhog is a very elaborate process. The ladies who cook cannot taste the Bhog in between. But all the ingredients put in it have to be in the right quantity and measure so that the cooked meal turns out perfect in taste. Also, since the Bhog Prasaad is made with great concentration and focus (so that nothing should go wrong) it always tastes outstandingly delicious.

Rangoli or Aalpona in Bangla is drawn to decorate the dais on which the deity is placed. In earlier times, Aalpona (in white) was drawn with powdered rice soaked in milk. But nowadays acrylic paints, water and other colours are being used. Aalpona or Rangoli making is an art in itself. Only a few are gifted with the grace of the Goddess to create it to perfection.

Before distributing the Bhog Prasaad it is customary to take the deity’s blessings by calling out in chorus -“Saraswati Mai ki Jai” thrice which means Hail Mother Saraswati.

Yesterday, being Thursday, for Bengalis it was also the day of Lakshmi Puja. Lakshmi is the Goddess of Riches in all material forms. Mythologically speaking, Saraswati and Lakshmi are siblings and it is said that they are not in good terms with each other. In olden times, it was believed that the two siblings have a love hate relationship- those who are devotees of Saraswati or Seekers of Knowledge are never blessed with worldly riches and those who are devouts of Lakshmi only go for material well being not giving enough importance to learning and knowledge seeking.

But these are all folklores to teach people that both are important – education as well as material success – and one cannot thrive without the other.

Here are some pics taken at the Kali Bari or Kali Temple where Saraswati Puja took place yesterday. We attended the Puja with our family on the special invite of the Temple priest. It is also an opportunity for community gathering and bonding as everyone, dressed in white or yellow traditional dresses, come to the Temple ground to attend the Puja, worship, eat Bhog and bond with each other.

We spent a good three and a half hours together in the afternoon and left as the clouds started hovering and the temperature dropped considerably.

Way back home, at the traffic signal, we saw a papadwallah (street hawker selling papad made of lentils or potatoes quite similar to large chips) taking a selfie on his smartphone. As I was going to click the funny scene the lights changed and we had to move on.

We all smilingly admitted that a street hawker now affording a smartphone is really indicative of India Shining!!!

The Goddes on the Dais

Rangoli or Aalpona