Anandadhara celebrated Saraswati Puja in the ground opposite PH4 on Wednesday, 14 February. It was celebrated with a lot of zest & fervour. It was a day filled with the fragrance of spring & the colours of joy.
The Mandap of Ma Saraswati was adorned with yellow. Most of the members were in yellow, saffron and mustard-coloured attire. These are springtime colours and represent growth, prosperity and a fresh start after a severe winter.
This festival is also connected to the mustard flower that blossoms at this time. Yellow is a colour of good energy & invokes Goddess Saraswati’s blessings.
The Puja started around 11 AM. Pushpanjali was offered to the Goddess by devotees. Many residents visited the Mandap, specially ladies and children, more than Anandadhara expected. It gave all of us at Anandadhara moments of pleasure and joy.
HateKhori is an age-old ritual followed in Bengal, when children are taught to write the alphabets, typically on slate, on Saraswati Puja. This is a formal beginning of a child’s education. Four parents performed this ritual.
The Anandadhara ladies are amazing and have made it a special organization by their support, volunteering their time in spite of their other responsibilities. They served a sumptuous Bhog featuring Khichuri, Labra (mixed vegetable), Bhaja, Chutney, Payesh, Luchi (Bengali Puri), Suji Halwa and sweets.
The Bhog was made entirely by the Anandadhara ladies. They left no stone unturned in ensuring no one left the pandal without prasad. My gratitude to them knows no bounds. I really appreciate it.
In the evening, core Anandadhara members gathered at the pandal and had a Bengali Adda (beloved pastime that’s unique to Bengalis, informal group conversation that’s long and relaxed in nature) with Cha, Pakoda, a lot of singing and laughter.
We, at Anandadhara, offer our sincere thanks to all who helped us in diverse ways, in conducting successfully, the first ever Saraswati Puja in Wish Town. In the coming years, we expect many more residents to visit the Saraswati Puja Mandap and make it more happening and an even bigger success.
