SUKH DUKH KE SATHI SANSTHA CELEBRATS BASANT PANCHMI

In the inaugural speech, Vice President of the Sanstha Shri SPS Chauhan, Ex-DIG BSF spoke about this festival explaining that Vasant (Spring) is one of the six ritus (seasons)- Vasant(as in Sanskrit), Greeshm, Varsha, Sharad, Hemant & Shishir. The festival Basant Panchami is celebrated every year Panchami of Hindu month Magh (January–February) to mark the end of the winters and beginning of Spring and new crops. Other members also shared their knowledge about this festival indicating that significance of this festival is more cultural in nature than religious, often celebrated by non-Hindus also in some form. In Pakistan, the celebrations of spring are known as ‘Jashn-e-baharaan’ which is celebrated for almost a month. Amir Khusro, the famous sufi poet composed songs using the word Basant (festival), and Nizamuddin Auliya used to join him in celebrating Basants of Sufis. 

Yellow colour has great significance on this festival, which is a sign of auspiciousness and spirituality. Even the food is coloured yellow by using saffron. Men, women and girls wear yellow clothes. The yellow flowers of mustard crop covers the entire field in such a way that it seems as if gold is spread over the land glittering with the rays of the sun. In the program of Sanstha also, one of the members. Shri KD Kaushal, brought and distributed home cooked yellow sweet rice to all members followed by tea.

Main programme of the day was a ‘bhandara’ organized by the Sanstha members near main gate of Sadbhwana Apartments, mainly for poor people with the lead of Capt S.S. Mann and whole hearted support of Sarv Shri D.C. Mathur, SC Chawla, GR Bains, PB Mishra JK Jindal, Dr. BM Khanna and other members. Ladies and children of the members also participated enthusiastically. Wide publicity of the ‘bhandara’ was made in nearby area which resulted in overwhelming response of about six hundred people who were served puri, sabzi, yellow haluwa and rice as much as they required, in dignified and respectful manner using disposable plates with spoons and water glasses. The service was done affectionately by the Sanstha members. The area was completely cleaned by the members themselves, before and after the bhandara. Before starting the bhandara, the members visited the nearby temple to pray goddess Saraswati and worship all the gods. 

Next morning birthday of the members of the Sanstha falling during the month was celebrated collectively to wish them a long happy life, Shri PB MISHRA, a poet member of the Sanstha read his following poem of b’day wishes. President of Sanstha Shri Vijay Shankar Singh, Ex-DIG BSF declared closing of the celebration with proposal of thanks to the members who organized the whole programme.