The festival is celebrated to mark the end of winter and the arrival of spring.
Basant Panchami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of spring. The festival falls on the first day of Magha month, which typically falls in February or March. Basant Panchami is observed by Hindus across India, although celebrations vary from region to region. In Uttar Pradesh, for example, people gather at the banks of rivers and ponds to welcome spring with dance and song. This celebration usually involves women and girls in colorful dresses dancing around a decorated tree or pole.
On Basant Panchami, Hindus also offer prayers to their ancestors. There are different customs regarding this aspect of the festival, with some families offering food to their ancestors while others place flowers on their graves. Some Hindus also believe that it’s an auspicious time for marriages during Basant Panchami.
