The Ancient Vasantotsava

There are many Sanskrit sources that throw light on how Vasantotsava was celebrated in ancient India. These include texts such as Ratnavali (seventh century AD) of Sri Harsha, Kathasaritasagara and Vikramacharita both of which are collections of stories collected in north India during eleventh century, and some portions of Bhavishya Purana. Ratnavali, a play, was written specifically to be performed on the Vasantotsava, and contains several detailed accounts of the celebrations. According to it, the Vasantotsava festivities lasted for three days and were set in two separate locations: one played in the city streets with free and sometimes wild behavior of the common people; and the other, in the gardens where the attention is centered on the private worship of the deity Kamadeva, the Hindu god of desire and love.

A woman should honour her husband with ornaments, garlands, and clothes, thinking of him as Kamadevata with her mind full of happiness.
(Bhavishya Purana)

The festivities of the Vasantotsava and the Madanoysava involve drinking and the worship of Indira.
(A Jain Kathakosa)

On the bright fifth of Magha, one should perform an elaborate ceremony with new shoots, flowers and unguents. Having performed this worship of the image of Krishna on the spring fifth one becomes beloved of that one sporting in Vrindavana, just as the spring is beloved of him.
(A 16^th century Vaishnava text by Haribhaktivilasa, about Sirapanchami)

Dear friend, behold the sporting of courtesans who are charming on account of their hissing uttered when struck by water by syringes discharged by naughty gallants.
(Spoken by Vidushaka in Ratnavali)

Look! Look! Friend, here comes Madanika with Chutalatika. She is dancing the spring dance in an unsteady manner as she is under the influence of love.
(Spoken by Vidushaka in Ratnavali)

The minds of women on this occasion (Vasantotsava) should be on graceful dance, on swinging on a swing, on singing and on the hearing of the stories of Gauri, and on the worship of Kama.
(Kavyamimansa)

O Asoka, you are the favourite of Hara (the Provider), and you are born of Chaitra (spring). I drink thee, make thou me, who am oppressed with grief, ever griefless.
(A mantra from Ashokakalikabhakshna, a ritual in which buds of Ashoka tree are consumed at springtime, to alleviate sorrow.)

Source: Leona M. Anderson: Vasantotsava – the Spring Festivals of India, Texts and Traditions
Published by DK Printworld, New Delhi (1993)