Col Satish Singh Lalotra
slalotra4729@gmail.com
India, as a nation has a long history of celebrations owing to religion, politics, elections and the ilk that reverberate through its sinews from Kashmir to Kanya kumari and Kuch to Kamakhya in manners befuddling an ordinary visitor to this country to no end. Leave alone foreigners even normal Indians may be astounded by the rich tapestry that these celebrations weave through the mental firmament of ours. But none evokes so much of awe than a single celebration has cast upon us; the festival of ‘Basant Panchmi’. Religion has always been the sine quo non of India despite its profound diversity in terms of language, culture, eating habits and so on. This profundity gets more accentuated as one travels, witnesses and absorbs such diversity in its very being across the length and breadth of India. Holding as a glue, religious festivities across our nation has been the single most facet to bind us together as a country despite centuries of foreign rule. Most of our religious festivities are connected with nature cum celestial objects, since our very existence revolved around such facets. Change of weather acting as a harbinger for change of dress, eating habits , daily routine etc thereby affecting the masses had long lasting effects on the countrymen. ‘Basant Panchmi’ is one such festival that has been for eons connected with ‘new life’, hope and vibrancy in our very existence. Since this festival announces the arrival of spring season as also honouring the Hindu Goddess ‘Saraswati’ , Basant Panchmi marks the preparations for the arrival of good season after a hard, grey and lusterless winter in the preceding months.
Basant Panchmi , also rendered as ‘Vasanta Panchmi’ is celebrated in Indian religions in different ways depending upon the region. In Jammu region of J&K, by the time Basant Panchmi arrives winter has not yet loosened its grip. The mornings are albeit cold, the evenings sharp with the northerly winds still ruling the roost. And yet, something shifts-softly, almost imperceptibly. Almond trees begin to hint at bloom at the higher reaches of Jammu region notably in Kud, Batote and beyond. Mustard fields glow brighter with their distinct yellowish tinge spread all over the region signaling to the populace that the season is turning. Rather in Jammu region, Basant Panchmi is not announced with spectacle; it is felt. Basant Panchmi has also been made memorable on the terra firma of Jammu region due to trio of historical reasons in the form of ‘Basant Durbar’ conducted during Maharaja Hari singh’s rule as also the famous Dogra singer Mallika Pukhraj who in her autobiography ‘A song sung True , A memoir’ has vividly captured celebrations during the Maharaja’s rule by rendering the famous song ‘Lo fir Basant aayi’ from Radio Pakistan. This song on Basant Panchmi has also been sung as a duet by Malika Pukhraj with her legendry daughter Tahira Sayed. Though a Dogra , Malika Pukhraj migrated to Pakistan in 1947 after Partition. Thirdly, Basant Panchmi has deep rooted religious connections too in Jammu region by way of famous ‘Mathwar mela’. More about it later in this article of mine.
Celebrated on the fifth day of the bright half of the Hindu month of ‘Magha’ the festival of ‘Basant Panchmi’ marks the advent of spring and is dedicated to a distinctive character in Jammu region; restrained , devotional and deeply reflective. Jammu’s geography and climate shape its festivals. Nestled between the plains and the mountains, the region experiences seasons intensely. Winter is long, and introspective; spring, though brief, feels like renewal. Basant Panchmi sits at this threshold. Farmers look at their fields with renewed optimism, and households subtly reorient themselves towards the coming months. The central ritual of Basant Panchmi is the worship of Goddess Saraswati. In Jammu city and surrounding towns, temples dedicated to the goddess as well as major shrines observe special prayers. Saraswati idols are adorned in yellow-symbolic of knowledge, prosperity and the blooming mustard fields that dominate the countryside at this time. For students, the day carries particular significance. Books, notebooks and musical instruments are placed before the goddess of learning. In many households, children are encouraged to begin a new lesson or write their first letters. The belief is simple yet powerful-learning begins with humility and devotion carries strength. On this auspicious day, Jammu which goes with a strong moniker of ‘city of temples’ dresses in yellow-not loudly but intentionally. Women wear yellow dupattas or shawls , men add a touch of colour to otherwise muted and drab winter clothing , and marigold flowers appear in homes and temples. The colour is not ornamental; it is symbolic. Yellow represents clarity of thought, warmth after cold months and hope after dormancy.
Traditional foods of Jammu cooked during this festival include the ‘Zarda Pulao’ or saffron rice , Keasr Halwa and sweet dishes with a yellow hue. Reflecting symbolism in its entirety. These are not elaborate feasts, but simple offerings-shared with family, neighbours and sometimes with less fortunate. Beyond the city limits of Jammu, Basant Panchmi has a clear agricultural relevance. In villages across the region , farmers view this festival as an indicator of seasonal change. The Rabi crop is approaching maturity, and mustard fields are in full bloom starting from Lakhanpur across the river Ravi right till Jammu with certain other crops interspersed. The yellow of the fields mirrors the yellow of the festival, thus reinforcing the intimate connection between the land and the culture of the region. Older farmers speak of Basant Panchmi with a leitmotif-‘Aya Basant Pala Udant’; meaning Basant Panchmi is the harbinger of closure of winter months and thus heaving a sigh of relief from bone chilling cold waves. Their age old wisdom speaks of assessing the season and weather patterns, soil conditions, and crop health based on such seasonal festivals. While modern farming relies on data and technology, traditional wisdom continues to coexist, guiding decisions based and shaped by experience passed down through generations.
Reverting back to my previously mentioned ‘Basant Durbar’ in the above paragraphs which was the ‘standard bearer’ of Royal Dogra culture under late Maharaja Hari singh during Basant Panchmi festivities, it is worth mentioning that yellow-themed courtly celebrations were the order of the day. Royalty and the citizenry of Jammu wore yellow with elaborate decorations viz yellow carpets, and canopies marking the spring festival plus paying homage to deities like ‘Baba Ballo’. It was a significant cultural event showcasing unity and joy distinct from the administrative ‘Durbar moves’ which have been restarted again under the present dispensation of the UT. The other significant development with regard to Basant Panchmi in Jammu region has been the annual ‘Mathwar Mela’ at devsthan Mathwar. Like the famous ‘Jhiri mela’ ,a grand congregation takes place at the holy shrine and birth place of ‘Baba Ballo ji Maharaj’. During this annual mela on the occasion of Basant Panchmi , thousands of devotees from all over the place far and wide pay obeisance to Babaji. A three day affair at Mathwar keeps the spirits of Jammuites on an adrenaline rush who as it is are submerged in the yellow hue of Basant Panchmi. Not to mention the skies of Jammu region which gets inundated with kite flying undertaken by all and sundry throwing caution to the winds. Kite flying is a must during the festival of Basant Panchmi , without which the festival remains a damp squib.
In an age dominated by digital distractions and instant gratification, Basant Panchmi in Jammu offers a rare pause. There are no competitive displays, toxic rush to document and pose every activity on the social media. The festival’s strength lies in its simplicity. This restraint is perhaps the most relevant message in an age and society which equates celebrations with scale and noise. Basant Panchmi reminds us that renewal can be internal, learning can be sacred and progress can begin quietly. Historically Jammu region has been at the cross roads of culture-Dogra traditions interwoven with influences from Punjab , Kashmir and the hills. Basant Pnachmi reflects this synthesis. While rooted in Hindu philosophy, its themes resonates with learning, growth and seasonal change. Even among communities that don’t observe this festival religiously , the arrival of spring is acknowledged , as was on full display when world famous Dogra muslim singer Mallika Pukhraj along with her daughter Tahira Sayed went on air by their excellent rendition of -‘Lo fir Basant Ayi’ from Radio Pakistan many decades back. As the day of Basant Panchmi passes and routine resume, its impact lingers subtly. A child studies with renewed focus, a farmer looks at his fields with hope and an elder recalls seasons gone past. Spring has not fully arrived, but it has announced itself. As was done beautifully by Malika Pukhraj in her song —Lo fir Basant ayi –many years ago.
(The writer is a retired army officer)
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