Sarswati puja or Basant Panchami

Today, Feb 04, 2014, is Saraswati puja. Saraswati is the goddess of learning, wisdom, art, culture, dance and music. Seated on a white lotus, the goddess is believed to have 'veena', a musical instrument used till today, in her hand and is therefore known as Veenapani (pani means hand). In Indian calendar it is Basant Panchami, Basant means spring and panchami is the fifth day. This is the birthday of the goddess.

A very auspicious day, the kids are taught to learn the alphabets. New projects are taken up on this day. In school, colleges and different centres of art and culture, very elaborate puja (worship) is performed in honour of the goddess. In every musical concerts the artists pay their obeisance at the beginning of the programme. The poets and writers worship goddess Saraswati everyday.

 Let us pray and offer our puja to her for the benefit of the mankind. May she grant us wisdom, learning and may we improve upon our skills in art, culture, dance and other artist pursuits.

Ya devi sarvabhuteshu vidya rupen sansthita
Namo tasyayi namo tasyayi namo tasyayi namo namoh

We salute the goddess repeatedly who of all the elements is manifest in the form of learning.