Basant Panchami is being celebrated today

Basant Panchami is being celebrated today. The festival marks the beginning of the spring season. The festival is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the month of 'Magha'. Basant means spring and Panchami means "the fifth day". On this day, Hindus wearing yellow clothes visit temples and pray to Goddess Saraswati - the goddess of knowledge, and celebrate the day as Saraswati Puja. 

Schools and educational institutes celebrate Saraswati Puja. Kite flying competitions



will also be held. The festival is mostly celebrated mostly in northern states of Punjab and Bihar.

In Allahabad, Basant Panchami bathing is taking place at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna and other Ghats of holy rivers from this morning. Besides elaborate arrangements for the bathing, security has been tightened at the Sangam area. Police and paramilitary forces are keeping vigil and drones and CCTV cameras have been put into service in the area.