The Human Cohesion Project — 5 Feb 2022

It is Vasant Panchami today, and that literally translates as the fifth day after the new moon in the month of spring. In the Indian subcontinent, several communities observe this day as a spring festival, particularly celebrating the bright yellow mustard blooms that colour the landscape in this season. Like most festivals around the world that mark a season of transition, this is celebrated approximately 40 days before the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere.

It is believed, in various traditions, that 40 days signify a psychic and physical cleansing and preparation period for re-emergence into the world after deep transformation. We see this reflected in the 40 days of Lent, 40 days of confinement after birth in several Asian cultures, 40 days of mourning after a death in Islam, etc. In India, quite symbolically, 40 days after today comes Holi, the festival of colours.

Besides this symbolic resonance that seems quite global, Vasant Panchami is also a great unifier. It is celebrated among Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Sufis not so much as a religious festival, but as a recognition of our belonging to the same land that begins to burst into colours around this time, after the northern winters. While human constructs may divide, nature unites, and heals.

The story goes that the Sufis began to partake in the celebrations of this festival since the 13th century, after the legendary poet Amir Khusrau draped himself in yellow (after noticing Hindu women celebrating the festival) and brought mustard flowers to his teacher Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia on this day. It is said that the teacher, who was in deep mourning after the death of his nephew, smiled at the sight of his disciple who had taken it upon himself to bring cheer to his master.

In the natural cycle, winters symbolise death that honours the end of a cycle and provides the much-needed pause and mourning before life begins anew. This day is an invitation to begin a new cycle afresh, with a mindful beginning of 40 days in internal preparation before bursting forth into full spring on the vernal equinox.

What is birthing in you? How would you want to spend the next 40 days?

May we learn to sync up with our ecosystem as we are offered a fresh start today.

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