In Bengal, Vasant Panchami is known as Saraswati Puja
as on this day, Saraswati, goddess of learning and knowledge, is worshipped.
In fact, the day when puja of Maa Saraswati is done is declared as
a state holiday. Calcutta Saraswati puja festival is celebrated with great pomp
and show. It is on this day that the youngest female of the family is asked
to dress up in yellow clothing. Sarswati puja of Kolkata India is dedicated
to the goddess of learning. On this day students invoke the blessings of the
goddess for success in learning, arts and crafts.
Throughout Bengal, Saraswati Puja is celebrated in schools,
colleges as well as homes. In all educational institutions of music, arts and
science, Saraswati Puja is observed with great reverence. Saraswati Puja is
observed religiously almost in all parts of India especially in Bengal. The
most significant aspect of this day is that Hindu children are taught reading
and writing their first words on this day - as it is considered an auspicious
day to begin a child's education. Goddess Saraswati being pure and white and
representing learning, no animal sacrifice is made to her.Everyone will have
vegetarian meal on this day.
Since Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of learning, the
students are the most ardent worshippers of Goddess Saraswati. The Saraswati
Puja, Kolkata has associated with itself various traditions and customs. Mostly
girls wear a yellow ('Baasanti') colored saree as a custom. Popularly
dubbed as the Bengali Valentine’s Day,Saraswati Puja , Kolkata has become
an occasion when young would be couples go for a date. Floral offerings are
made in a big scale. Books, articles, instruments of music and arts, earthen
inkpots and bamboo quills are placed before her. The ink is made from unboiled
milk water, colour powder and silver glitter called abhro. On this
day nobody writes or reads any book, or play any musical instrument. This signifies
that the goddess is blessing the books placed in front of her that day.
This puja is celebrated in all schools and colleges.
Young boys could be seen engaged in the preparation of pujas from early morning.
From cutting of fruits to assisting the priest, everything is taken care of
by the students. No matter whether a student is religious or irreligious, everyone
participates in this in the hope of doing, well in their examinations. Saraswati
Puja is also the day of eating plums.
Plums, called 'kool' in Bengali is the most sought after
fruit on the day of Saraswati Puja. 'Kooler Chatni' is a must for that day.
'Kool' or plum is a fruit of spring time. Hence, it must be eaten on the day
of saraswati Puja. The time of Saraswati puja is also the time for selling plums
at a premium. With the end of spring, the demand for plums also ebb.
On the day of Saraswati puja, young children starts writing
through a ceremony called 'Hatey-Khori'. This is a ceremony which marks the
beginning of writing for young children. People think that one become a learned
person if one starts his introduction with letters from this auspicious day.
Saraswati Puja has tremendous importance among Bengalis.
The puja starts early in the morning. The day has been declared a state holiday.
The pujas are held in every locality and in most homes as well. Since Saraswati
is the goddess of learning, the students are the most enthusiastic. They give
'Anjali' to the goddess and pray for their future.
Traditionally, members, specially students and youngsters,
of the family wear a mustard yellow ('Baasanti') coloured saree/kurta
as a custom. An essential requirement for the Saraswati puja are the 'palaash'
flowers and phaag (coloured herbal powders) without which the puja is considered
to be incomplete. Marigold, chrysanthemum and dahlia are also an integral part
of the puja and decorations.
All the young people living in the locality gather in
the pandal to celebrate the occasion. Music blares in the pandals and the children
enjoy themselves. The puja is performed by the 'pujari' or 'purohit'
(hired brahmin worshipper). After the puja is over, the 'prasaad' (offered
food) is distributed among all the people present. In some places, they make
it a point to feed all the poor living in the locality.
All children dip their bamboo quills into the earthen
inkpots and write "Aum Sarswatyai Namah"
on the bel leaves or their books the following day, and rebegin their studies.
After the puja prasad is distributed to people. In the evening after the Puja
is over, the idol is immersed in the sea, river (mainly Ganges) or in ponds
with serenity. Alternatively the deity remains in the family puja room for a
year till the next Saraswati Puja. Books are kept back in places.
Saraswati puja is conducted in almost every locality
of West Bengal, and of course, Kolkata, and even all over the world, including
Europe and the Americas. People of the locality get together and assemble at
the pandal to celebrate the festivity. Kids are really enthusiastic about the
puja. It is during this puja that children pray to the goddess for their academic
success. It is usually the pundit who performs the puja. After the puja is over,
prasad is distributed to all.
So, if you are on a trip to Kolkata during the Saraswati
Puja to Kolkata make it a point to be a part of the Saraswati puja celebrations
and have loads of fun and frolic!!!
