Saraswati Puja Today

News Desk    |    ১২:২৮ পিএম, ২০২৫-০২-০৩

Today, February 3 (Monday), marks the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha in the Bengali month of Magh. This is the day when Saraswati Puja is traditionally observed. In Hinduism, Goddess Saraswati is the deity of knowledge, speech, and music. On this day, the goddess is believed to arrive in the world riding on a white swan.

The formalities of the puja began at midnight on Sunday, February 2, with the installation of the idol. The ceremonies will continue until tonight, Monday. According to traditional Hindu rituals, early in the morning, Goddess Saraswati will be bathed with milk, honey, yogurt, ghee, camphor, and sandalwood. Afterward, devotees will partake in Charanamrita (water offered from the feet of the deity).

At around 9 a.m., the "Bani Archana" (worship of speech) begins. Priests will chant the mantra, "Saraswati Mahabhage Vidye Kamal Lochane/Vishwaroophe Vishalakshi Vidyāṁ Dehi Namostute," as they offer their prayers to the Goddess of Knowledge. Following this, devotees will present flower offerings. They believe that by pleasing the goddess, they will gain knowledge and wisdom.

On this Shital Sashti, Saraswati Puja is also a time for children's formal initiation into education, Brahmin feasts, and rituals of honoring ancestors (Pitritarpan). Although Saraswati is a Vedic goddess, the modern form of Saraswati Puja, as we know it today, has become popular in recent times. In ancient times, tantric practitioners worshipped the goddess Bagheswari, who resembled Saraswati.

In the 19th century, schools would observe a ritual on the Shukla Panchami by placing palm-leaf manuscripts and writing materials like inkpots and pens on a clean mat and offering prayers to the goddess. On the occasion of Sri Panchami, students would worship Bengali or Sanskrit books, slates, inkpots, and pens at home.

Today, on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, the Hindu community, especially students, is organizing various religious events, including the worship of speech. In the temples and major educational institutions of Dhaka and across the country, in addition to the puja, there will be other activities like flower offerings, distribution of prasad (sacred food), religious discussions, cultural programs, evening arati (prayers), and decorative lighting.