Today is [tag]Basant Panchami[/tag] – the day traditionally marked as the first day of spring. It is that period of time when the world is so very beautiful, that love blooms…..

The [tag]Siva Mahapuran[/tag] describes the first day of spring as the time when the God of Love [tag]Kamdev[/tag] shoots his passion filled darts at Shankara – the Great God of the Universe – to get him to break his meditation and notice Parvati, for legend had it – even the Gods had legends – that if the Lord of the Universe does not meet Devi – the mother of the Universe … there can be no life at all……Never mind that the God of the Universe opened his third eye and burnt Kamdev to embers….the process began. Shiva and Parvati are soon united, and Kamdev himself is revived, so that the universe can thrive..

In the North of India this is also the time when Saraswati is venerated and children are taught to read and write for the first time. NS tells me that in Assam – everyone is clad in yellow – including little girls wearing the yellow mekla…. celebrating the spring festival. In Mumbai too, the local temple was adorned with yellow and orange flowers … making one’s heart bloom

This morning I have been listening to Raga Basant… sung by [tag]Veena Sahasrabudhe[/tag] and it is a trip… I hope that spring means that the cold wave that we have been facing goes away… soon.

Update : Check out [tag]Pandit Jasraj[/tag] singing raga Basant … Aur Raag Bane Baarati… Dulha Raag Basant…

For all the readers of this blog, a happy spring festival… and may there be peace and love in your lives….