Jamshedpur, Feb 15: City will celebrate Saraswati Puja on the occasion of Basant Panchami on Tuesday. Basant Panchami is considered as one of the most auspicious days in the year for initiation of children into learning. Saraswati Puja is observed on the fifth day after the no moon night in the Hindu month of Magh.
From education centres to households, people were busy appeasing the Goddess of knowledge, who is considered by the Hindus as the daughter of Goddess Durga.
“Mainly on this day, students offer prayers to the goddess of knowledge and education Saraswati in schools and the colleges. In the Jamshedpur Women’s College from where I have passed out, I had come specially to be a part of the celebrations here,” said Ritu Saxena, a former student.
Neha, a local student, said she had come for the Saraswati Puja hoping for better results. “We have come here for the Saraswati Pooja as Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and education so that we get good results,” said Monica.
Tradition has it that adults should not help children into learning, until the initiation ceremony is performed before Goddess Saraswati. A large number of children are initiated into learning at temples or at home in front of the idol of Goddess Saraswati.
Wearing bright yellow clothes signifying the onset of spring, devotees – mainly students and teenagers- lined up to seek the blessings of the goddess. Unmarried girls and boys clad in saree and kurta thronged various puja pandals across the city.
Although the puja is offered in the early morning, the celebrations will continue through the day as students keep their books in front of the goddess for her blessings. The day is unofficially considered as ‘no study’ day in Bengal with students not even touching their books.
“It’s a day we look forward to every year. The khichri and labra cooked as bhog (offering) in our school for the goddess always tastes very delicious. We also have chutney and beguni (eggplant dipped in Bengal gram flour and deep fried). There is nothing like eating together with all our classmates,” said Nitin Sinha, celebrating the occasion at his institution in Sakchi.
