Vasant Panchami

Vasant Panchami falls on Maha Sud 5 (Magha Shukla Panchami) and welcomes vasant ritu, the spring — called in the shastras the king of seasons. In the wider Hindu tradition the day is sacred to Saraswati, the goddess of learning and music, and children are often introduced to their first letters. In Vraj and in Pushtimarg, however, the day carries an announcement of its own: spring has come to the land of Shri Krishna's leela, and with it begins the long festival of colour.

From this day the mood of the haveli turns. Shri Thakurji is adorned in the light, bright mood of spring; the first abil and gulal of the year is offered, and it will increase day by day; branches, blossoms and the greenery of the new season are brought before the Lord; and the kirtaniyas begin the vasant and dhamar padas. The tradition counts roughly forty days from Vasant Panchami to Dolotsav — one unbroken arc of growing celebration, of which this panchami is the first note.

Spring is nature's own utsav — mango trees blossoming, kesuda flaming in the forests, fields turning gold with mustard — and the tradition sees all of it as shringar for the Lord of Vraj. On Vasant Panchami the whole creation seems to join seva, and the haveli simply opens its doors to let the season in.

For a Vaishnav the day is the turning of the heart's calendar. Winter's stillness gives way to khel; from today, every darshan carries a little more colour, a little more music, a little more laughter, until the crescendo of Holi and Dolotsav. The bhav is anticipation — the same eagerness with which the gopis of Vraj awaited the season of raas and rang. There is also a gentler note: as the day of Saraswati, it reminds us that vidya and sangeet find their fulfilment in the Lord's service — the voice is sweetest when it sings His kirtan. To welcome vasant is to welcome the khel of Prabhu into one's own life, and to begin, softly, to be coloured.