SPRING is the symbolism of renewal, change, fresh starts, optimism.
Everything shall pass and be renewed once more.
Since the beginning of Spring means the end of the winter season, people around the world celebrate the festival in their own ways and styles.
Seasons are an integral part of life on Earth. Not only do they affect the weather, growth, and agriculture, they also play a role in the human mood and the energy generated in the surrounding: the temperatures and the light affect one’s mood in different ways. Everywhere in the world, one can experience a change in seasons, in different ways… there are many types of seasons, some exist in some regions and not in others. The most known combination is the cycle of the four main seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall.
According to the moon-sun Hindu calendar, there are six seasons in the year. Since Vedic times, Hindus across India and South Asia have used this calendar to structure their lives around the seasons of the year. still used today for important Hindu festivals and religious occasions. Each season is about two months long, and special celebrations and events occur during each of them. According to our scriptures, the six seasons are:
Vasant Ritu: Spring
Grishma Ritu: Summer
Varsha Ritu: Monsoon
Sharad Ritu: Autumn
Hemant Ritu: Pre-winter
Shishir or Shita Ritu: Winter
Each season comes with its own sets of symbols, attributes and themes. Springtime is the season of new life, rejuvenation, and rebirth - called Vasant Ritu in India, is considered the king of seasons for its mild, pleasant weather across much of India. Depending on each year, Vasant Ritu begins around mid February and ends around mid-April. The Hindu months of Chaitra and Baisakh coincide with this season and it is also time for some important Hindu festivals, including Vasant Panchami, Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Holi, Rama Navami, Vishu, Bihu, Baisakhi, Puthandu, and Hanuman Jayanti.
The equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in India and the rest of the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere, occurs at the midpoint of Vasant. In Vedic astrology, the vernal equinox is called Vasant Vishuva or Vasant Sampat.
It is a season of marriages and feasts. It is during this season that this earth was honoured by the birth of Shri Ram Chandra. It was again in spring that the coronation of Ram actually took place. Hence the spring may be called the King of seasons.
Spring is a season overflowing with symbolism. It is a transitional time of year, when the cold and dark disappear and the rains of rebirth fall upon the Earth. The light begins to shine brightly once more, animals emerge once again, and plants and flowers “spring” into bloom. At this time of year, everything enters a state of renewal. So on a deeper level, spring is a time for us to embark on new journeys and start new projects with fresh ideas. It is like the fertile time of the year: think baby animals, fresh flowers, bees leaving the nest and coming out again, eggs as sign of fertility, rainbows, early sunrises, yellow, orange and pastel colours covering the air with optimism.
One of the famous festivities in India at the beginning of spring season is Holi “the festival of colours,” very much known and celebrated all around the world. Originally, Holi was an agricultural festival celebrating the arrival of spring. Holi is a time when man and nature throw off the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colours and liveliness of spring. A festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil; a celebration of the arrival of spring and harvests to come. It’s the festival of colors, emotions, and happiness. And what better way to express yourself than with the vibrant colours of the rainbow?
Around this time, there are many festivities and celebrations in India.One of the most important, before Holi, usually in February, is Vasanta Panchami, which marks the end of the winter and the start of spring, is dedicated to goddess Saraswati. She is a goddess of water and of a river bearing her name. Saraswati is also a goddess of speech and learning and it is auspicious for children to begin school and learn their first word on this day.
On Vasanta Pachami day, everyone rises early to bathe, dress in yellow clothes, adorn their forehead with the yellow of turmeric and worship the sun goddess, Mother Ganga, and the earth. Books, articles, musical instruments, etc are placed in front of the goddess to receive her blessings.
The colour yellow represents good fortune, spirituality, the ripening of the spring crops and the recent harvest. Food is coloured with saffron. The goddess Saraswati is dressed in yellow. In some traditional homes, sweetmeats of yellowish hues, such as kesar halva are offered to relatives and friends. Yellow flowers are used in abundance to decorate the places of worship. The yellow flowers of the mustard crop covers the field in such a way that it seems as if gold is spread over the land, glittering in the rays of the sun.
"Oh, Mother Sarasvati, remove the darkness of my mind and bless me with the eternal knowledge."