KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 16

President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today attended the worship ceremony on the occasion of Basanta Panchmi.

The pooja was held at Hanumandhoka in Basantapur Durbar Square of Kathmandu.

Basanta Panchami or Shree Panchami marks the arrival of spring. It is also celebrated as Saraswati Pooja in Nepal to worship Goddess Saraswati, who is regarded as the goddesses of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning.

The auspicious day is observed on the fifth day of Shukla Pakshya (waxing moon phase) of the Nepali month of Magha.