The timeless hymns reverberated the air on 26 January at the CNPC Puja Mandap, close to the Vedvan in Sector 78, Noida. The occasion was Saraswati Puja 2023, also called Sri Panchami and Basant Panchami being celebrated with reverence and devotion and the pushpanjali sessions drawing devotees in large numbers.
For Goddess Saraswati is not a mere goddess. She is the mother of Vedas. She is a river. She is the embodiment of knowledge, wisdom and learning. Draped in white, she signifies purity and her demeanour reflects the same. She holds the lotus in one hand symbolising knowledge and the musical instrument veena in the other, symbolising harmony. Her vahana (vehicle) is the white hans (swan) which has an unusual talent of separating milk from water.
Variously addressed as Vageshwari (Goddess of Vak or Speech), Veenapani (Goddess carrying Veena), Pustakadharani (Goddess carrying books), Veenavadini (Goddess playing Veena), Hansvahini (Goddess sitting on swan), Vameshwari (Goddess of letters), Sharada (Goddess who loves Sharad i.e. Autumn season), Bharati (Goddess of history), Vani (Goddess of melodious speech) and Vidyadayini (Goddess of knowledge), she is the divine presence that students and seekers of the arts and knowledge pay their obeisance to. Her aura denotes the varied aspects of human personality Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (alertness), and Ahankar (ego). At the CNPC puja mandap, children and students deposited their text books at the feet of the goddess seeking her blessings. The rituals began with the Saraswati Avahan, followed by Anjali, and Hatey Khori, among other customs. An interesting concept, Hatey Khori ((literally holding the khori (traditional Indian chalk) to write), helps initiate young children into the universe of knowledge, literature, arts and culture. Soon, it was afternoon and occasion for the Bhog Bitoron (Distribution of Bhog Prashad). Devotees made a beeline for the manna.
As the evening sailed in, cultural events and programmes took centre stage.
The day after, it was time to bid goodbye to Maa Saraswati with the Visarjan Ceremony rekindling hopes of the Devi’s revisit the next year to bless us all, yet again.
by Anupam Ganguly (AGV1)
