According to Hindu mythology, Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and art was born on this day. So, people celebrate this day to gain blessings from the Goddess so that they could find success in the field of art and education.
It is heartily celebrated in temples, homes and even in schools and educational institutions. It is a government holiday with government schools, colleges and offices being closed. However, private institutions and offices remain open. On this auspicious occasion, pandals are beautifully decorated with the idol of Goddess Saraswati wearing a white saree. Yellow colour also plays an important role in the festival as it symbolizes vibrancy of life and natural splendour. Young girls especially wear yellow sarees and take part in the fest. The whole environment bursts with yellow colour during the festival.
Many youths go on fast on this day to show reverence to the Goddess of knowledge. The festival begins with an aarti (prayer) commenced in the presence of a local pandit. People make offering to the idol of Saraswati in the form of sweets, flowers, books and pencils. All day, devotees come for worship and yellow sweets are distributed as 'Prasad' to the people attending the fest. A very special custom known as 'Pitri-Tarpan' also takes place which is an ancestral worship.
Another important aspect of Vasant Panchami is that it is also regarded as the most auspicious day to start or inaugurate educational institutions. Little pre-school kids are taught to write and read on this day as people believe while doing so Goddess Saraswati's blessings will make their children very bright in future.
Vasant Panchami is also an indication of upcoming spring season. The season goes a vast change with new fresh leaves and blossom in trees, and crop fields are filled with yellow colour mustard flowers.
When the festival is finally over, people take a long procession to small rivers and seas and the idol of Goddess Saraswati is immersed in the water bidding goodbye to the festival.