Saraswati Puja today

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

Saraswati Puja will be celebrated today across the country with traditional gaiety, religious fervour and spirit of pursuit of art and knowledge which Goddess Saraswati provides.

Saraswati Puja is performed on the Vasant Panchami day every year mostly in educational institutions where the Hindu community students seek the blessings of Goddess Saraswati.

Saraswati, a mythological consort of Lord Brahma, is the personification of knowledge — arts, science and crafts. She represents power, creativity and inspiration and presents herself when the weather is pleasant and nature is in its full grandeur.  It is a season of inspiration and passion.

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.

On this day, Hindu children are also imparted their first lessons in reading and writing.

On the eve of the puja, the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, in a message on Friday greeted all members of the Hindu community.

The prime minister said Devi Saraswati was the symbol of the light of knowledge, justice and truth, and goddess of learning, messages and melody.

She said Bangladesh was the country of communal harmony and the people of all faiths had been living here together peacefully since long ago.

Pandals were put up at many places, including schools and art and music institutions, where the students and youths of different religions joined in the celebrations and worshipped the Goddess. Cultural programmes were organised at different pandals and in schools.

The day will start with offering prayers at the pandals and at homes. Many people, particularly students and artists, were seen clad in basanti colour in schools, colleges and at puja pandals.

In the capital, Saraswati Puja will be celebrated at Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University, Dhakeswari temple, Siddheswari temple, Ram-Krishna Mission, Supreme Court premises, Dhaka College, Eden Girls’ College and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

On Dhaka University campus, the puja is organised at Jagannath Hall, Bangladesh Kuwait Moitri Hall, Rokeya Hall, Shamsun Nahar Hall and Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall.