Vasantha Panchami festivities begin on a colourful note in Telangana’s Basar

Temple Executive Officer K. Sudhakar Reddy stated that Vedic pundits and priests conducted Ganapathi Homam, Chandi Yagam, and other traditional rituals on the inaugural day of the ceremonies. Panchayat Raj Minister D. Seethaka and local MLA Ramarao Patel offered silk garments to the deity on behalf of the government. The priests and temple authorities honored them during the event.

Nirmal: The three-day-long annual Vasantha Panchami festivities or the birthday of goddess Saraswathi began on a colorful note on the premises of the ancient Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam at Basar on Saturday.

Temple executive officer K Sudhakar Reddy said Vedic pundits and priests of the shrine performed Ganapathi Homam, Chandi Yagam and other customary rituals on the first day of the ceremonies. Panchayat Raj minister D Seethaka and Local MLA Ramarao Patel presented silk clothing to the deity on behalf of the government. They were felicitated by the priests and authorities of the temple.

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The officials said elaborate arrangements were made for smooth conduct of the festivities. Basic amenities such as queue lines, shades, temporary toilets and parking lots were created for the convenience of the devotees. He stated that around 5 lakh devotees were expected to visit the shrine and perform Aksharabhyasam or initiation into the world of alphabets for their children in connection with the auspicious occasion.

According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that on this day goddess Saraswati was born on Vasantha Panchami or Sree Panchami. Followers of Hindu faith celebrate this occasion with great fervor and gaiety in temples, homes and educational institutions. They perform mass Aksharabhyasam programmes and special prayers by thronging shrines of the goddess of learning.

Pilgrims from not only various parts of Telangana, but also belonging to Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh states will throng the historic abode of goddess of wisdom during the three-day long festivities. They will take holy dip in Godavari river flowing near the temple town before taking darshan of the deity.

Legend has it that the sage Vyas had worshipped goddess Saraswathi during the times of Mahabharata by settling on the banks of the river around 5,000 years ago.