write a short essay on sarswati puja
Answers
Saraswati Puja generally occurs in the month of Magh every year in schools, colleges, libraries, clubs and other places. On the day before puja the image is brought and placed on a platform. The place of worship is beautifully decorated and illuminated.
The students offer ‘anjali’ or flower offerings at the feet of the goddess for her blessing. After the worship, ‘Prasad’ is served to all.
In the evening cultural programme are normally held. The next day is the day of ‘visarjan’ or immersion. In this day the image is immersed in the local pond or river. Everybody starts waiting for the next year Saraswati Puja.
Worship of the divine Goddess of learning Saraswati begins with Saraswati avahan, which is the invocation of the Goddess when the primary star or moola nakshatra is on accent and the puja concludes on Vijayadasami. This beautiful Goddess of music and learning is clad in a white saree and flaunts Vedas, veena and crystal rosary in her hands. She is believed to reside in the celestial sphere of Brahmapura along with Brahma. She is the embodiment of highest form of learning and wears a crescent on forehead.
As Saraswati is the Goddess of learning, it is a popular festival among students in various parts in India, namely the stares of Orissa, West Bengal and Bihar. Schools and colleges remain closed on the day of puja and it celebrated on the fifth day in the month of Maagh (January-February). The worship takes place on Vasant Panchami when the paddy field is in full bloom and hence it is also considered as a harvest festival. Students gladly stay away from their books on this day and a learned priest performs the rituals of the puja.
Some variations of the idol of Goddess Saraswati are also worshipped. She is depicted with eight hands, five faces and represents additional powers. The additional objects held by her are pasha or noose, chakra or disc, trishula or trident, shankha or conch, padma or lotus or ankusha or goad. She is either seen riding a peacock or swan. Peacock represents beauty, whereas the swan presents wisdom.
The idol of Saraswati is placed in the hall and is beautifully decorated with flowers, such as rose, palash and marigold. One important ritual observed during the worshipping of Goddess Saraswati is breaking a coconut in front of the idol. “Kool” or berry is a very important fruit of the festival. Along with berries cream, curd rice, Kheer (rice pudding), parched rice, milk, gingerly balls, parched paddy, roli, apan, clarified butter, curd, ghee and candies of sugarcane sugar are offered to the deity. After the worship of the Goddess concludes the cut fruits or “prashad” are distributed by the students, guests and teachers.
Cultural programs are also held in schools and colleges after the worshipping of the deity is over. The day is celebrated with a lot of verve and excitement. Grand feast is arranged by students and the immersion of the idol takes place the following day. With a lot of fanfaronade and pomp the idol I the Goddess is carried to a nearby lake or river by the students for the purpose of immersion.
There is an educative value of the Saraswati Puja festival. Students learn how to be spiritual and respectful. They learn qualities like leadership, team building, co-operation. It instills the feeling of brotherhood and teaches the students to interact with each other peacefully and strengthen the bond of friendship.