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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.
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.
As Saraswati is the Goddess of learning, it is a popular festival among students in various parts in India, namely the stares of Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. 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.
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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