The Urs of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan has passed, and in India this year it is closely followed by ‘Basant Panchami’, meaning the fifth day of spring according to the lunar calendar. It is a day dedicated to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of water, learning and music, but it is also celebrated by Sufis, and particularly those in the Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin, because of something that occurred here seven centuries ago.
It happened in those days that the Sufi master Nizamuddin Auliya had become very sad because of the sudden death of his nephew, and with great concern his devoted student, the celebrated poet and musician Amir Khusrau, was searching for a way to lift the saint’s spirits again. On the day of Basant, Amir Khusrau chanced to see Hindu women going to their temple wearing bright yellow and carrying yellow flowers. When he asked them why they were doing this, they told him it was to celebrate the end of winter. Taking this as his inspiration, he put on a woman’s yellow sari, and came to his master singing and dancing and offering yellow flowers – and of course was rewarded with a smile!
Today devotees wearing strips of bright yellow cloth will enthusiastically visit many places in the neighbourhood, including the shrine of Hazrat Inayat, singing and offering flowers. It is an encouragement to take heart: winter is always followed by spring, and loss gives way to renewal.
A heart warming and joyful tale that opens itself to the beautiful unity of being that is ever present for our recognition and benefit.
Thanks Nawab for another wondrous gem.
A smile for spring though of course in Australia we are slowly moving towards autumn. A moment for our flood and bush fire victims
Dear Josephine, yes, as I wrote the post I was thinking about the southern half of the world, aware that it doesn’t apply to your seasons. But as you say, it is heartwarming and joyful, suitable for every difficulty.