The festival marking the onset spring season, Basant Panchmi, was celebrated across the country on Monday. <br/><br/>President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people on the occasion. <br/><br/>On this day people, especially students worship Godess of learning, Saraswati and seek her blessings for wisdom and knowledge. <br/><br/>People wear yellow clothes and eat yellow rice to emulate the yellow mustard flower fields and fly kites.<br/>AIR correspondent reports that bathing festival was held at Magh Mela at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. <br/><br/>In Punjab, Basant Jor Melas were also held at Dukh Niwaran Gurdwara at Patiala and Gurdwara at Cheherta Sahib near Amritsar. <br/><br/>The Basant Panchmi festival which is celebrated to welcome the change in weather is also associated with Vir Haqiqat Rai, who had sacrificed his life on this day. <br/><br/>Today Vir Haqiqat Rai was also remembered in Punjab and Haryana.<br/><br/>

In Uttar Pradesh, Basant Panchami and Saraswati Puja were celebrated today with religious fervor and traditional gaiety across the state. <br/><br/>On this occasion fourth bathing festival was held at Magh Mela at Allahabad. <br/><br/>Mela Administration has claimed that about 75 lakh devotees have taken holy dip in the Sangam the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati and other rivers on the occasion. <br/><br/>AIR Lucknow correspondent reports that the pilgrims thronged the Mela area and bathing ghats braving cold weather and fog since early morning and bathing was continued till late Mondauy evening. <br/><br/>Devotees also worshiped Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge on this day.<br/><br/>Several functions have been organized specially at educational<br/>institutions to worship goddess of wisdom Saraswati across the state.<br/><br/>Most of the temples have been decorated nicely specially at Mathura as customs of Holi festival also begins from this day. <br/><br/>Tight security arrangements are in place and large numbers of security personnel including Para-military forces are deployed in and around Magh Mela area. <br/><br/>The State Government has also deployed ATS and STF of the state police to avoid and eventuality during the celebration of bathing festival. <br/><br/>Authorities have banned entry of heavy vehicles into Allahabad town and mela area and it will continue till late evening. <br/><br/>UP Roadways and Railway have run special buses and trains to ferry the pilgrims on the occasion.