Spring is one of the most anticipated seasons in India, and for good reason. After the cold winters, the country transforms into a vibrant and blooming paradise, making it an ideal time to plan a visit. It is a time of renewal and rejuvenation in India. Many communities celebrate the season with festivals and rituals that commemorate the arrival of spring.
North India welcomes spring with the colourful Vasant Panchami celebrations. Vasant Panchami is considered an auspicious time for marriage, starting a new business, or moving into a new house. It is also believed that Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, and wisdom, was born on this day. Teachers and students worship her in schools and homes, and devotees take holy dips and play with colours in temples as a prelude to the more boisterous celebrations of Holi, the festival of colors, later in March. During Holi, people from all walks of life come together to throw coloured powders, dance, and sing. The festival symbolises the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring after the harsh winter months.
Yellow is the colour of spring, and in Bengal, there is a tradition of girls wearing yellow and saffron-colored sarees during Sarwasati Puja, the unofficial Valentine’s Day here. In Bengal and Assam, Sarwasati Puja is a day to woo. The Sufi shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi is also swathed in all hues of yellow during Vasant Panchami with its annual Sufi Basant festival. A tradition since the 12th century, it is a celebration of a joyous moment when Sufi poet Amir Kushro made his mentor Khwaja Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya smile and helped him come out of his grief.
While Goa celebrates the arrival of spring with the Goa Carnival and its colourful street parades, which the Portuguese started in the 18th century as a local feast just before Lent, the lesser-known tribes of northeast India, for whom farming is the main occupation, welcome spring by invoking their ancestors and tribal deities. Elaborate ceremonies are held in the villages to seek their blessings for the well-being of their community, their animals, and a bumper harvest. One such interesting festival is the Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi of the Singpho tribe. Singphos are an ethnic tribe found in India, Myanmar, and China.
From the vibrant celebrations of numerous festivals to the lush landscapes of the country’s hills and forests, there is something for everyone to enjoy during the spring months. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or just want to take in the breathtaking scenery, India is the perfect destination to welcome spring. So, if you’re planning a trip to India, make sure to plan it during the spring and experience the vibrant and diverse culture of this magnificent country.
