Our year starts with the celebration of Saraswati puja and impending spring. The festival is celebrated in India every year on the fifth day of the shukla paksha (waxing phase of the moon) of the Magha (usually in the month of January/February), on the day called ‘Basant Panchami’. Vasant Panchami is the advent of spring and its colors, fledging life and hope. Ma Saraswati is the Goddess of Learning, particularly of poetry and music, learning and science in Hindu Mythology and we begin our year by seeking her blessings and paying homage to the power of learning and knowledge.

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At BANC, a hallmark of this celebration are the performances by the children of our community, vendor stalls by local entrepreneurs to entice shoppers. Students, multiple music and dance performances both entertain and educate the community about our culture and heritage. We also have hathe-khodi for the little ones as they take their first steps into reading and writing.