International Saraswati Mahotsav 2026 inaugurated at Adi Badri on Basant Panchami; Haryana celebrates Vedic culture and sacred river heritage.

The International Saraswati Mahotsav 2026 commenced with devotion and fervor at the sacred origin site of Goddess Saraswati in Adi Badri, coinciding with Basant Panchami. The Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board inaugurated the festival with a ‘hawan yajna’ and Vedic chanting. Haryana Tourism Minister Sh. Arvind Sharma attended as the chief guest and performed oblations during the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Sh. Sharma highlighted the cultural and civilizational significance of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, emphasizing their enduring role in shaping India’s identity. He noted that, in Indian tradition, rivers are considered sacred, with the Saraswati revered as the mother and nurturer of ancient Indian civilization. Vedic culture thrived along its banks, where sages established hermitages and composed sacred texts, earning India the status of “Vishwaguru.” According to the Mahabharata, the Saraswati originated from Adi Badri, near the Shivalik hills, and flowed approximately 1,600 km through Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat before merging into the Arabian Sea.

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Sh. Sharma added that the river’s banks witnessed the composition of the Vedas and the delivery of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita at Kurukshetra. The ancient Indus-Saraswati civilization city of Rakhigarhi, with evidence of a 7,000-year-old civilization, was also situated along the river. He expressed pride that Haryana is globally recognized as the land of Vedic culture, thanks to the flow of Mother Saraswati in the region.

Former Minister Sh. Kanwar Pal, MLA Sh. Ghanshyam Dass Arora, OSD to the Chief Minister Sh. Bharat Bhushan, and Vice Chairman of the Saraswati Heritage Development Board Sh. Dhuman Singh Kirmach were also present at the occasion.