Vasant Panchami

Brahma, having created the world, found it silent and formless in its expression. From his mouth came Saraswati with a veena, and at the sound of it everything found voice. The day is her appearance.

Saraswati is worshipped with books, pens and instruments placed before her. Vidyarambham, a child's first letters, traditionally written in a tray of rice, is done on this day. Yellow is worn. Kites are flown in Punjab and parts of Gujarat.

Yellow food, kesari bhaat, sweet saffron rice, boondi laddoo, and in Bengal khichuri with fried vegetables.

In Bengal this is a major festival, with pandals and community Saraswati Puja that in scale resembles a small Durga Puja; students bring their textbooks to be blessed. In Punjab it's the kite festival. In the south, Saraswati Puja is instead observed during Navratri, so Vasant Panchami is much lower-key.