Vasant Panchami

Today is the first day of spring in India; Vasant means "spring" and Panch means "fifth", and it’s celebrated on the fifth day after the new moon in January or February.

Vasant Panchami is also the birthday of Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of education, learning, and the fine arts.

The colors yellow and white are important today: People wear yellow and white clothes, eat yellow and white foods, and decorate with yellow and white flowers, to symbolize purity, peace and knowledge.

Folks all over India take part in art and painting competitions, poetry recitations, and music festivals today.

 Students will take a break from studying, and put their books on the altar to be blessed.

Agenda today:
1. Look for signs of spring:

Nasturtiums in the February rain.

It may be spring in India, but we have another month of cold coming. Still, I can see signs of change: The nut trees are blossoming (to which my sinuses can attest), camellias and violets are blooming, and early flowering bulbs are opening up. Spring is definitely on its way- just not quite yet.

Today I will find joy in the first signs of spring.

2. Make a Rangoli:
To prepare for Vasant Panchami, Hindus buy new (yellow) clothes, and decorate their homes with flowers. They also make rangoli designs on the ground in front of the door of the house with flower petals, to welcome Saraswati.

Below is the rangoli I made last year, with yellow, white, and red rice flour, leaves, and pine needles. For more information about rangoli, and how I made the colored rice flour, see Pongal.

1- First I looked at some rangoli designs and made a plan.







2- Then I drew circles on my sidewalk with white chalk.

Sadie thinks this is interesting, but odd.

3- Then I sprinkled on the rice flour, and rubbed it in a bit.

4- And finally, I added some leaves, pine needles, and a camellia blossom in the center.



3. Start a new project:
Because Vasant Panchami is the birthday of Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of education and the fine arts, it is an auspicious day to start new projects. This festival is celebrated in many schools in India, and often parents will choose this day to teach children to write their first words.



Since today is an auspicious day to start a new project, I decided to start a painting.


4. Make moong dal:

Moong dal with naan- yumm!

Sweet saffron rice and saffron wheat pudding are traditionally served for Vasant Panchami, but, really, any yellow food is appropriate.

Since it's Lent, what I really feel like tonight is a simple meal of hot yellow lentils, called moong dal in India.


Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion
• 1/2-inch ginger root
• 1 medium tomato
• 1-c. moong dal (yellow lentils)
• 1/4-tsp. cayenne powder
• 1/2-tsp. turmeric powder
• salt
• 2-3 Tbsp. oil or ghee or butter
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 jalapeno pepper
• 1/4-tsp. garam masala powder



1- Chop the onion and the ginger root very finely, and also chop up the tomato.

2- Combine the dal, tomato, onion, ginger, cayenne, and turmeric in a pot with 4 c. water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes, until the dal is soft and thick. You may need to simmer with the lid off for the last five minutes, or, if the dal looks too thick, you can add a little water. Also add salt to taste.

Spices, pepper and garlic, ready to go into the dal.

3- Meanwhile, peel and mince 4 cloves of garlic and chop one jalapeno pepper.

4- When the dal is done, heat oil or ghee or butter in a small frying pan. Add the cumin seeds and fry for 30 seconds. Add the garlic and pepper and fry for 30 seconds. Turn off the heat, and add the garam masala powder, and stir.

5- Add spices to the dal, and stir well. Serve hot with steamed rice or naan, and a dollop of plain yogurt on top.