Saraswati Puja

This day is also known as Shree panchami, celebrated as the birthday of Saraswati , the Goddess of learning. Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts, represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness.She is known to be the lily-white daughter of Shiva and Durga. In her hands Saraswati holds a book, a vina harp. Shree panchami brings people of all castes, ages and creeds together to the temples of Divinity. According to popular belief, if a person swallows seven rice grains, which are offered to the Goddess, he/she will become wise and knowledgeable. So, students and children clamor for the rice grains strewn around the idol. This is also the day when children of 5 to 7 are taught their first alphabet, which is repeated after the parent or teacher and traced on wooden slabs. As a belief that she endows human beings with the powers of speech, letters, arts, sciences and all the wishdom and learning, students, scholars, writers, poets, artists, musicians and every one, also spinners and weavers lavishly fete her. Their books, pens and other tools are brought in front of the idol or the picture of goddess saraswati. Around the city numerous wedding processions followed by musicians and relatives can be seen, as this day is the most auspicious and popular day in the year for marriages, when the union is blessed by the Goddess Saraswati herself. This day also coincides with the advent of spring. Any new task started on this day is believed to bring success and gaining.