Saraswati Puja, worshiping the Goddess of knowledge, music, art and culture, is being celebrated across the country today (February 3) amid much enthusiasm, festivity and religious fervor.
Saraswati Puja, also known as Basant Panchami, is observed annually on the fifth Tithi of the Bengali month of Maagh.
A significant tradition of this festival is "Hatekhori," a ritual where children are formally introduced to the alphabet. On this special day, toddlers are often given a slate and chalk to make their first scribbles, marking the beginning of their learning journey.
The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious devotion at major Hindu temples, as well as in schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions.
Students, in particular, pray to Goddess Saraswati, seeking her blessings for wisdom, knowledge, and success in arts, music, and culture.
In most temples, houses and educational institutions, the puja will begin in the morning to be followed by "Anjali"or divine offering. Then the children will be imparted "Hatekhori" and later prasad (food offering to the goddess) will be distributed among devotees.
According to the Hindu faith, the goddess Saraswati represents power, creativity, and inspiration and presents herself when the weather is pleasant and nature is in its full grandeur.
Depicted as a graceful woman with a crescent moon adorning her brow, she is shown riding a swan or a peacock, or is seated on a lotus flower.
The most gorgeous Saraswati Puja will be arranged on the premises of Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, where a huge number of devotees and crowds will throng to perform the religious rituals and visit the pandals circled on the playground of the university's largest dormitory.
According to hall authorities, students of as many as 72 departments are arranging 72 puja pandals this year, as the Fine Arts Faculty will erect a gigantic Saraswati idol made with styrofoam, bamboo, and other materials at the centre of a pond on the hall premises likewise every year, which attracts most of the devotees as well as the visitors. Puja will also be arranged at Dhakeshwari National Temple, Ram Krishna Mission, Jaganntah University, Siddheswari temple, Supreme Court premises, Farashganj, Shakhari Bazar, Tanti Bazar and different other places in old Dhaka, Banani, Dhaka College, Eden Girls' College, BUET, Ramna Kali Mandir and Maa Anandamayi Ashram, Tejgaon College, Stamford University and different educational institutions in the city.
On the Dhaka University campus, the puja is also organised at all female dormitories -- Rokeya Hall, Samsun Nahar Hall, Bangladesh Kuwait Moitri Hall, Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall and Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall.
Jagannath Hall administration is organising the dormitory's central puja at the dormitory's place of prayer while employees of the hall have staged several pandals to worship Saraswati.
Apart from Dhaka, Saraswati puja is also celebrated at temples, educational institutions and residences across the country.
BDST: 1247 HRS, JAN 03, 2025
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