Friday, January 23, 2015

Vasant Panchami

The first day of spring in India. On the fifth day of the waxing moon one should celebrate the coming of spring in Vrndavana by offering Krishna many types of leaves and flowers, and fresh shoots of sprouting grasses, that symbolize life and new growth.

Following in the footsteps of the Vraja-basis of Vrindavana, one should paint designs on Krishna's body and perform a special aratrika for Him, and if possible offer yellow flowers too. The vasanta raga should be played on this day. The Deities in the temples, especially in Vrindavana, should wear yellow or yellow-green dresses on this day.

In places like Vrindavan, Mayapur, Jagannath Puri and Udupi, many of the women folk dress in yellow also. As it is the first day of spring many fertility rites are performed at this time - for the family, for the women folk, for the crops, for the cows, etc. It's a very festive time.

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