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Vasant Panchami

  • Writer: Kushala
    Kushala
  • Jan 24
  • 2 min read

Friday, January 23rd was a big holiday and festival here. Vasant Panchami celebrates the coming of spring and honors the Goddess Saraswati. She is the Goddess of knowledge, education learning, arts, speech, poetry, music, creativity, language, purification and culture. The Swamis at Svaroopa Vidya Ashram are in the Saraswati order.


The town began preparing for the festival days ahead. I snapped some pictures along the way.


5 days before. These are fake flowers that are hung around the windows and doors in the temple.
5 days before. These are fake flowers that are hung around the windows and doors in the temple.
Bags and bags of decorations to be hung
Bags and bags of decorations to be hung
4 days out. Hanging the flowers around the windows and doors in the temple. I can't take pictures inside the temple, so this zoomed in photo is the best I can do.
4 days out. Hanging the flowers around the windows and doors in the temple. I can't take pictures inside the temple, so this zoomed in photo is the best I can do.

Flowers line the pillars and the ceiling decoration is going up.
Flowers line the pillars and the ceiling decoration is going up.

Ceiling decoration in the yajn~a hall, which is also the decoration staging area.
Ceiling decoration in the yajn~a hall, which is also the decoration staging area.

Decorations coming out!
Decorations coming out!

3 days out. Same staging area - the mums have arrived! It's dark because the sun hasn't risen yet.
3 days out. Same staging area - the mums have arrived! It's dark because the sun hasn't risen yet.

Stringing the mums
Stringing the mums

Creating an entranceway
Creating an entranceway

Later that night - let there be light!
Later that night - let there be light!



So much light! 😍
So much light! 😍
2 days out, the front of the temple is decorated
2 days out, the front of the temple is decorated

In the yajn~a room, the bags of food offerings are arriving.
In the yajn~a room, the bags of food offerings are arriving.

1 day before Vasant Panchami a 24 hour sapta (chant and rhythmic dance around a sacred object) begins with a parade that stops at all the sacred places on the temple grounds. I was struck by the image here. The priest is carrying the flame. The sevaks (in royal orange dress) are protecting the flame and shielding it with the umbrella. The flame is waved to the at every stop. About half the crowd is in front of them, and half behind.
1 day before Vasant Panchami a 24 hour sapta (chant and rhythmic dance around a sacred object) begins with a parade that stops at all the sacred places on the temple grounds. I was struck by the image here. The priest is carrying the flame. The sevaks (in royal orange dress) are protecting the flame and shielding it with the umbrella. The flame is waved to the at every stop. About half the crowd is in front of them, and half behind.
The yajn~a hall is no longer the decorations staging area. It is being prepared for the yajn~a, which is an ancient fire ceremony.
The yajn~a hall is no longer the decorations staging area. It is being prepared for the yajn~a, which is an ancient fire ceremony.

The morning of the street to the temple was lined with Rangoli. It is used to welcome the Gods.
The morning of the street to the temple was lined with Rangoli. It is used to welcome the Gods.

Happy Vasant Panchami! Note the spire of Nityananda's temple - it changes colors. My pictures of the day are limited. Photography is not allowed most of the places the festival was happening.
Happy Vasant Panchami! Note the spire of Nityananda's temple - it changes colors. My pictures of the day are limited. Photography is not allowed most of the places the festival was happening.

One of my friends gave me this photo of the life sized murti (statue) of Nityananda. This gives you a taste of the elaborate flower arrangements that decorated the temple. These are fresh flowers. Note Nityananda's crown, which he only wears on holidays. There were lights hung from the ceiling that bathed him in colors that changed.
One of my friends gave me this photo of the life sized murti (statue) of Nityananda. This gives you a taste of the elaborate flower arrangements that decorated the temple. These are fresh flowers. Note Nityananda's crown, which he only wears on holidays. There were lights hung from the ceiling that bathed him in colors that changed.

Here's a link to the temples live broadcast of the early morning sacred ceremonies. There are times when you can spot me near the front of the audience!



The day after, clean up begins. This is where the yajn~a took place. I'm sorry I didn't get any pictures of the carpet they rolled out to line the interior of the temple grounds. It made the place feel like a palace!
The day after, clean up begins. This is where the yajn~a took place. I'm sorry I didn't get any pictures of the carpet they rolled out to line the interior of the temple grounds. It made the place feel like a palace!

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