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Saraswati Puja Of Bengalis
It is said that a
characteristic feature of a Bengali is his/her inclination towards fine
arts and literature. Many believe that this talent is gifted to him/her by
none other than Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of wisdom, learning and
supreme knowledge. If literary abilities, verbal skills and creativity
come naturally to Bengalis then there is no wonder that they are devout
worshippers of Ma Saraswati, the symbol of absolute truth!
Bengalis, who first find a mention in the atharvaveda around 1000 BC, are
the most ardent followers of the goddess Saraswati who is arguably the
mother of the Vedas according to Hindu mythology. Bengalis worship Goddess
saraswati on the day of ‘Vasant Panchami’ (the spring festival) which is
actually the fifth day of the ‘Magha’ month of the Hindu calendar. As per
Hindu mythology, on this day, Goddess Saraswati, daughter of Lord Shiva
and Goddess Parvati was born.
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Saraswati Pooja is
normally enacted during morning hours amidst chants of ‘mantras’ and ‘shlokas’.
Pooja is performed by using sandlewood, ghee and burning of ‘agarbattis’
and incenses of various types. The idol of the deity is wrapped in a white
sari, she holds ‘Veena’, an Indian string instrument and books in her four
hands and sits on a white lotus, a symbol of purity while having a white
swan as ‘Vahana’ a sign of righteousness! Among other fruits, ‘Kool’ or
Plums are offered to the goddess and later eaten as ‘Prasad’.
Bengalis don’t eat Plums
before Saraswati Puja as an age-old belief. ‘Palash’ flower blooming in
the spring season forms an integral part of this Pooja.
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‘Aamer Mukul’
or the mango flower, another occurrence of the spring season is also
an essential element which is placed on the ‘ghat’ or the small pot in
front of the deity. After Pooja, Bengalis eat a vegetarian meal of ‘khichri’,
‘torkari’ and ‘bhaja’ along with ‘kooler chatni’ or chutney made from
‘Kool’. |
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Bengalis wear ‘Vasanti’ or orangish
yellow clothes on this day to mark the beginning of the season
“Vasanta’ or spring and also to represent the colour of the blooming
mustard flowers in the fields of Bengal. In earlier days this colour
was home made from the stems of the ‘Shiwli’ flower, by a natural
process and clothes were dyed using this colour. This occasion is also
very auspicious for the students as they don’t study for the day and
keep their study books near the feet of the deity for her blessings
which they believe is essential for their exams. |
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In earlier days they also used to keep
their inkpots and bamboo quills for her blessings and used to write
‘Aum Namo Saraswatyai Namah’ on ‘Ber’ leaves with them.
Goddess Saraswati
is the Goddess of mystic sound and clarity of thought. Bengalis
believe that she has endowed the human beings with the power of
speech. Bengalis thus celebrate a function called ‘Haatekhori’ on
the same day where kids are made to learn writing for the first
time using slate and chalk. The priests make them write the spiritual
word ‘Om’ in front of the Goddess. Schools and colleges organize
special prayers for this occasion for the students. Many visit the
beautifully decorated ‘Pandals’ amidst fun and gaiety. After
a full day of celebration, the idol is immersed in a nearby river
in the evening in a quiet way unlike the other major Bengali festivals
like Durga and Kali Pujas.
Saraswati, the Goddess of nobility of ideas, is thus a revered deity among
the usually highly educated Bengalis. The day is declared a state holiday
in West Bengal. Pandals are erected on every nook and corner and the pooja
is celebrated in almost each and every household making it one of the most
popular occasions in the Bengali calendar. Often the pooja is hailed as
the Bengali form of the Valentines Day with young, would be couples going
in for a date and the ones without them to find their perfect soul
mate. The Saraswati Pooja is one of the most important socio cultural
events after Durga Pooja in the Bengali society and perhaps one
of the few religious events that still invokes the excitement and
passion of the young and new.
Contributed By:
DEEPANNITA HALDER, is an MBA Finance working in a financial
organisation as well as pursuing part time web article writer. She also
calls herself an amateur story writer.
deepannita_h@yahoo.com
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