SARASWOTI PUJA:A DAY OF ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM🙏📚🎶

 

Today is the day of Saraswoti Puja here in Nepal. People from every age group celebrate this day with great joy and enthusiasm. It is an absolutely a really busy day. I have seen flowers and fruit vendors very busy selling flower's and fruits to students. Students buy flowers, fruits,sweets and nuts to pay homage and seek blessings from Goddess Saraswoti. They are dressed in their best dresses to attend program in their schools.They are in hurry to get to school.

Small kids are eager to write their first ever letter of their life at Saraswoti temple premises. Parents are busy to teach their kids to learn new things. 

Some people are getting married today. They are starting their new venture of their lives from this day on. Some boys are observing their 

Bratabhanda ceremony while girls are observing Surya Darshan(Gufa Rakhne) ceremony to embark that they are entering their new phase of life. They are adolescents now and no more a kid that brings a lot more responsibilities to them. They are now grown up. 

Above all, people are busy to start something new and fresh today. Be it a fresh move in the field of education, expertise, business or relationships.

Here, I would like to explain how and why Saraswoti Puja has a great importance in Nepal. So, let me try.

INTRODUCTION:

SARASWOTI PUJA is one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals. It is also called as Shree Panchami or Basanta Panchami or Saraswoti Puja. It is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the waxing moon of the Nepali month of Magh. Saraswati pooja is observed on Magh Sukla Panchami. Saraswati pooja is done on Panchami, so the day is called Shree Panchami. This year it is being observed on 4th Falgun 2077. It is the day when Goddess of Knowledge and Wisdom, Maa Saraswoti is worshipped. It embarks warm spring comingwith the end of cold winter.

WHY IS GODDESS SARASWOTI WORSHIPPED ON THIS DAY??

According to the Hindu mythology, it was on the day of Basant Panchmi or Magh Shukla Panchami that Goddess Saraswati appeared from the 'kamandalu' of Lord Brahma. 

She is the symbol of arts, music, philosophy and learning. The consort of Brahma, forms the holy Tridevi of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati. 

Goddess Saraswati is regarded as the goddess of knowledge. She is worshiped as the source of all intelligence and creativity. Her blessings are the source of innovation and knowledge . She is the creator of art, music, science and all education.

  

Saraswati is one of the greatest creation of Lord Bhrama. She is believed to be the most beautiful creation of Brahma. 

Saraswati is four handed Goddess seated on a white lotus wearing white sari. Her vehicle is a white Swan. She holds Veena, Book and a garland in her hands. 

Sara also means essence and swati means self. Therefore, she is regarded as self-essence.  

There are many temples of Swaraswati across Nepal. In every temple vicinity there is always a small separate temple for Saraswati. It is a tradition of establishing Saraswati and Ganesh in every temple in Nepal. 

Across Kathmandu valley there are three main temples of Goddess Saraswoti. They are Saraswoti Temple in Lele, Saraswoti temple in Swyambhu, Nil Saraswoti temple in Gairidhara. Devotees in Kathmandu valley visit these temples from early morning to late in the evening during the Saraswati Day.

HOW IS IT CELEBRATED?

The festival is observed by worshipping Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, wisdom, learning, art, music and culture. It is believed that those who seek knowledge and wisdom on this day they tend to become intelligent, talented and scholar in any field of expertise. So people make sure they learn everything they want to do in their life on this particular day. They seek blessings from Goddess Saraswoti. People visit temples of Goddess Saraswoti and pay homage by offering Puja. They offer flowers, fruits, nuts, books, pens to impress Goddess Saraswoti. 

Most of the children above the age of two start their educational journey from this auspicious occasion. They take a piece of chalk and learn to write their first ever letter of their life. Parents make sure that their kids begin to write from this day on. They believe that their kids will become a great person if they learn from this day on. Children are taken to Saraswati temple and asked to read and write first letter of their life. The wall of Swaraswoti temples across the country are scribbled by Nepali Alphabets and numbers. Kids use white chalk to write on the slate or wall. Therefore, it is very important day for every kid. It is believed, Shree Panchami is the best day to start learning new things. Students worship books, pens, notebooks and other instruments. Musician worship his/her instruments. Professionals worships their tools. In one sentence, this is the day when the source of knowledge, art and education are worshiped.

On this day, schools and colleges organise pujas to pay homage to the goddess of knowledge. Students participate in huge numbers by starting the day with a ritual bath in the morning, followed by a day-long fast.It is very important day for students. People, specially students get really busy during this day. They are busy arranging flowers 🌹 and fruits to offer the Goddess. They organise programme in the honour of Goddess Saraswoti.Students worship goddess Saraswati with more diligence and respect. 

Schools and Colleges organise programmes including cultural dances, music and academics. Its as similar as a cultural festival for students. They are offered Buniya, Ladoos,Nimkis, Nuts and Fruits as a blessing of Goddess Saraswoti. They make sure they learn science, music,dance,art and all the major of the academics.

Since this day is believes to be very good and auspicious people get married, start new business and start new venture in this day.

FINALLY:

Goddess Saraswati is believed by Hindus as the eptiome of knowledge, speech, innovation, creativity, wisdom and enlightenment.

I really miss school when I see students in hurry to attend their school programs during Saraswoti Puja. I miss queuing up and eating packets of Buniya as Prashad. But we are no kids anymore. Even though we celebrate this day with same zeal and enthusiasm as when we were kids.

HAPPY SARASWOTI PUJA 🙏📚🎶🌹🤗

BY SANJITA NAPIT