Saraswati Puja: Devotion for Knowledge and Success

Vasant Panchami is the festival of Goddess Saraswati. This festival is celebrated between the month of January and February. This festival signifies us the end of the winter season and starting of the spring season.

The word Vasant means spring and Panchami means fifth. So, the festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the Indian month, Maagh (January-February).

Vasant Panchami is also known as Saraswati Puja. This festival is dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge. Vasant Panchami is also known for the birthday of Goddess Saraswati. The yellow color is associated with Goddess Saraswati as well as the mustard crop, that’s why people wear yellow color clothes and make yellow color sweets on Saraswati Puja. Spring is the season when crops are fully bloomed, so at many places this festival is also celebrated by flying kites.

Goddess Saraswati is the God of Wisdom and Knowledge. That’s why this festival is mainly celebrated in school and institution so that students observe the blessings from Maa Saraswati. The yellow color is the most dominant color of the day. The Goddess of art, learning, knowledge and wisdom, Maa Saraswati is worshipped with full dedication. People make yellow color sweets and purchase yellow color clothes and flowers for offering given to Maa Saraswati.

On this day people feed brahmans with the feeling that they are feeding their ancestors and they are accepting the food. Flying Kite has become part of this festival and people really enjoy this event.

Goddess Saraswati symbolizes the God of intellect and learning. She has four hands which signify ego, intellect, alertness and the mind. She carries lotus and scriptures in two of her hands and she plays veena with her two hands. She rides on a white swan. Her white dress is a symbol of purity. Her swan signifies that the people should be able to differentiate the good from the bad. Lotus here signifies her wisdom. She is also well-skilled in the experience of truth. When the Goddess is sitting on Peacock than it is a reminder that a strong ego can be held back by wisdom.

How to do Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami Puja):

One should follow the following steps  while doing Saraswati Puja:

• Dhyana: One should start the puja by doing meditation of Goddess  Saraswati. Dhyana should be done in front of the book symbolically representing Maa Saraswati.
• Avahan:  After meditation, invoke Goddess Saraswati in front of books with the mantra. While calling Maa Saraswati hands should be folded and the thumb should be put inward.
• Pushpanjali: After the invocation, take five flowers by joining the palm of both hands and leave them in front of the book by offering seats to Goddess Saraswati by chanting pushpanjali mantra.
• Nav Upchara Puja:  After that perform Sarawati Puja by offering chandan, akshata, pushpa, dhoop, deep and naivedhya while chanting mantra.
• Puja Samarpan: After performing the above puja,  take gandha, akshata and Pushpa in right hand and leave in front of the book by chanting the samarpan mantra.