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Saraswati Puja is celebrated across the globe by the Hindus. This festival is also known by the name of Sripanchami festival and is observed on the fifth day of the spring festival on a full moon day in the month of Magh (January-February). The word panchami means five. The Saraswati Puja festival is related to the Kaumudi utsav and the Basant utsav. Saraswati Puja marks the beginning of the Vasant Utsav and is celebrated for a period of fifteen days by the people of Uttar Pradesh till Dolepurnima or full moon day.
Goddess Saraswati is the embodiment of knowledge, wisdom and learning. The word Saraswati has been derived from the two words, knowledge (Sara) and self (Sva).She is draped in a white saree or mustard coloured or basanti saree. White signifies purity and her demeanour reflects the same. In her two rear hands she holds akshmala or prayer beads in her right hand and pustaka or book in her left hand. With her two fore hands she plays the musical instrument veena that symbolizes harmony.
Playing the veena signifies the tuning of the intellect with the mind and knowledge, so that the devotee can blend harmoniously with the universe. The prayer beads signify spiritual knowledge and bring across the message that spiritual knowledge is more powerful than the secular knowledge contained in books. The deity sits on an inverted lotus that symbolizes knowledge and her vehicle is a white swan.
Saraswati Puja is celebrated with a lot of fervor and zest in every household in Eastern India especially in Bihar and Bengal. This puja is celebrated by the educated class of people only as they feel if they are blessed by the deity of learning, Goddess Saraswati, they can attain moksha or salvation of soul. Being a very popular festival celebrated in almost every household in the Northern and Eastern states of India, children are acquainted with this festival and they are given Saraswati Puja essay to write in schools.
This festival is celebrated in the month of Magh-Phalgun which is January-February every year in schools, colleges, libraries, clubs and other places. On the day before puja the image is brought and placed on a platform. The place of worship is beautifully decorated and illuminated.
The students offer 'anjali' or flower offerings at the feet of the goddess for her blessing. After the worship, 'Prasad' is served to all.
As Saraswati is the Goddess of learning, it is a popular festival among students in various parts in India, namely the stares of Orissa, West Bengal and Bihar. Schools and colleges remain closed on the day of puja and it celebrated on the fifth day in the month of Maagh (January-February). The worship takes place on Vasant Panchami when the paddy field is in full bloom and hence it is also considered as a harvest festival. Students gladly stay away from their books on this day and a learned priest performs the rituals of the puja.
The idol of Saraswati is placed in the hall and is beautifully decorated with flowers, such as rose, palash and marigold. One important ritual observed during the worshipping of Goddess Saraswati is breaking a coconut in front of the idol. “Kool” or berry is a very important fruit of the festival. Along with berries cream, curd rice, Kheer (rice pudding), parched rice, milk, gingerly balls, parched paddy, roli, apan, clarified butter, curd, ghee and candies of sugarcane sugar are offered to the deity. After the worship of the Goddess concludes the cut fruits or “prashad” are distributed by the students, guests and teachers.
Cultural programs are also held in schools and colleges after the worshipping of the deity is over. The day is celebrated with a lot of verve and excitement. Grand feast is arranged by students and the immersion of the idol takes place the following day. There is an educative value of the Saraswati Puja festival. Students learn how to be spiritual and respectful. They learn qualities like leadership, team building, co-operation. It instills the feeling of brotherhood and teaches the students to interact with each other peacefully and strengthen the bond of friendship.
In the evening cultural programme are normally held. The next day is the day of 'visarjan' or immersion. In this day the image is immersed in the local pond or river. Everybody starts waiting for the next year Saraswati Puja.
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