basanta

Basanta is a term used in several South Asian languages to denote the season of spring. It is derived from the Sanskrit vasanta, and appears in various transliterations such as Basanta, Basant, Basanto, and Basantu. The word is used across languages including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, and Punjabi, among others. Basanta refers to the period of warming weather between winter and summer, typically in late winter to early spring, and is associated with blooming flora, renewed activity, and festive events.

In Hindu tradition, Vasanta Panchami or Basant Panchami marks the onset of spring. It is a festival dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning, and is commonly celebrated with offerings to the deity, prayer, and the wearing of yellow garments to reflect the season’s bright colors.

In Bengali culture, Basanta Utsav, also known as Dol Utsav, is a spring festival strongly associated with Rabindranath Tagore and the Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan. The celebration emphasizes the colors and joy of spring, with participants often dressed in yellow and engaging in music, dance, and seasonal festivities.

Basanta is also used as a personal name in India and Nepal. It appears in literature and music as a symbolic reference to spring and renewal, sometimes aligned with regional celebrations of the season.