Basant Panchami and Saraswati Puja celebrations in Nepal bring people of all castes, creeds and beliefs together in a warm bond of joy, religious faith and exuberance.
Basant Panchami in Nepal is supposed to be one of the most important festivals that is celebrated with great fervor and marks the birthday celebrations of Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu deity of learning, music and purity.
Basant Panchami and Saraswati Puja celebrations in Nepal welcome the advent of spring, flowers, gaiety and good fortune. The people of Nepal believe that Basant Panchami is one of the most auspicious dates for beginning a newly married life. Children in between the ages of 5 to 7 are made to utter their first alphabet on the auspicious Basant Panchami day.
Devotees, students, writers, scholars, singers, weavers, craftsmen and others worship their books, pens, ink bottles, tools etc. on this sacred day as they make offerings to Goddess Saraswati with sweets, flowers and rice.
Celebrated on the 5th day of the Nepalese Magh month, Basant Panchami brings with it a joyous hope for a better life, prosperity, purity and progress.
The Basant Panchami celebration at the royal palace in Katmandu draws heavy crowds every year. The royal priest chants religious incantations to evoke the blessings of Goddess Saraswati, while a choir at the Hanuman Dhoka sings the ceremonial spring song.