Vasant Panchami

Today is the first day of spring in India; Vasant means "spring" and Panch means "fifth", and it is 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. 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
2. Make a rangoli
3. Start a new project
4. Make moong dal (yellow lentils)

A hummingbird visited our feeder as I made a rangoli on the porch.

1. Look for signs of spring:

It may be spring in India, but it's late winter here. We've recently had several below freezing days and nights, and this morning a dusting of snow. I'm not complaining! These mild winters are why I love the Oregon valley. 

I can see signs of change: Camellias are in bud, violets are blooming, and daffodils are poking up. Spring is definitely on its way- but I know we have another month of cold coming. Today I find joy in the first signs of spring.

2. Make a Rangoli:

Rangoli I made a few years ago, with yellow, white, 
and red rice flour, leaves, pine needles, and a camellia.

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. They also make rangoli designs on the ground in front of the door of the house with rice flour and flower petals, to welcome Saraswati.

Today's rangoli on our front porch

For more information about rangoli, and how I made the colored rice flour, see my page Rangolis and how to make them.

3. Start a new project:
Because Vasant Panchami is the birthday of Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of education and the fine arts, today is an auspicious day to start new projects and studies (The word auspicious makes me smile!). This festival is celebrated in many schools in India- with poetry readings and other special events- 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, today I'm going to begin my huge new garden project: We are taking out an old tree in our yard next week, so we will have sun again, which means we can put in a bigger garden!

Today I will finish moving the old compost pile, measure and stake out where the new beds might go, and order new raised beds and duck fencing.

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.

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.