Saraswati Puja
Basant Panchami is the fifth day of Magha month of the Indian calendar and heralds the advent of spring. Basant meaning spring is that glorious time of the year when the sun has a new shade of yellow and the blooming flowers bring life back from the dreary, chilly winters. Basant Panchami is a very auspicious day as Saraswati puja is celebrated through out the country on this day. Saraswati is the Goddess for Knowledge and Wisdom and this festival is celebrated to invoke the blessings of the Goddess who signifies knowledge, learning, arts and culture.
It is believed that Goddess Saraswati endows human beings with the powers of wisdom, knowledge and learning. She is seen as the serene Goddess wearing a crescent moon on her brow riding a swan or seated on a lotus flower. She has four hands that represent four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego. In one hand, she holds the sacred scriptures, the second one holds a lotus, the symbol of true knowledge. With her other two hands, she plays the Veena . The idol of divine Mother is dressed in white which symbolises purity and rides on a white swan symbolising Sattwa Guna or purity and discrimination.
The other predominant colour in the celebration of this festival is yellow which indicates the onset of spring and the blossoming of mustard flowers. Families dress in yellow representing the Basant Ritu or spring.
There are various rituals that are followed to worship the divine Mother. Flowers, sweets, fruits and wild berries are offered to the Mother and an elaborate puja with sandalwood, ghee, joss sticks and incense is done to the sound of shlokas, conch shells and drums. Pushpanjali (offering of flowers along with mantras) are offered. Bright palash and marigold flowers are offered that are a part of the worship.
On this auspicious day, parents initiate their children into the world of written word and make them write their first alphabet in the presence of the divine Mother. The priest, who performs the rituals of Saraswati Puja, holds the hand of the little ones and helps them write their first alphabet on slate with a chalk. Traditionally they are made to write the word ‘AUM’. Notebooks, books, pens and pencils are kept at the feet of the Goddess to seek blessings of the Mother and then used by the students.
Contributed by:
Shilpi
Internet Marketing Manager
It is believed that Goddess Saraswati endows human beings with the powers of wisdom, knowledge and learning. She is seen as the serene Goddess wearing a crescent moon on her brow riding a swan or seated on a lotus flower. She has four hands that represent four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego. In one hand, she holds the sacred scriptures, the second one holds a lotus, the symbol of true knowledge. With her other two hands, she plays the Veena . The idol of divine Mother is dressed in white which symbolises purity and rides on a white swan symbolising Sattwa Guna or purity and discrimination.
The other predominant colour in the celebration of this festival is yellow which indicates the onset of spring and the blossoming of mustard flowers. Families dress in yellow representing the Basant Ritu or spring.
There are various rituals that are followed to worship the divine Mother. Flowers, sweets, fruits and wild berries are offered to the Mother and an elaborate puja with sandalwood, ghee, joss sticks and incense is done to the sound of shlokas, conch shells and drums. Pushpanjali (offering of flowers along with mantras) are offered. Bright palash and marigold flowers are offered that are a part of the worship.
On this auspicious day, parents initiate their children into the world of written word and make them write their first alphabet in the presence of the divine Mother. The priest, who performs the rituals of Saraswati Puja, holds the hand of the little ones and helps them write their first alphabet on slate with a chalk. Traditionally they are made to write the word ‘AUM’. Notebooks, books, pens and pencils are kept at the feet of the Goddess to seek blessings of the Mother and then used by the students.
अस्तो मा सद् गमय तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय मृत्योन् मा अमृतं गमय्
ॐ शांति शांति शांति
ॐ शांति शांति शांति
Contributed by:
Shilpi
Internet Marketing Manager
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