Saraswati Puja 2024: The Auspicious Dates and Rituals of Vasant Panchami

Winter brings a bundle of festivals in India. Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja in India brings joy to everyone’s life. Also, it is one of the main festivals of the Hindu religion in India. But, people of all religions get into the mood for celebrations. Moreover, Saraswati Puja has great importance in the lives of students.

People celebrate Saraswati Puja in India twice a year. One is on Vasant Panchami day. The other is on Ayudha Puja during Navratri. Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja is the main festival in East India. Saraswati puja during Navratri is one of the main festivals in South India.

Let us know some amazing facts about Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja in India.

Table of Contents

What is the story of Saraswati Puja?

Saraswati is a Hindu Goddess of knowledge and education. She is also a symbol of wisdom and music. A white saree is her iconic dress. Also, she sits on a white lotus with a veena in her hand. Besides, she keeps a swan by her side. There are many mythological stories of Saraswati.

1. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma created the universe. After creating the universe, he did not know how to organize it. So, he needed to get the knowledge to do his task. So, he created the goddess of knowledge and wisdom. She was Saraswati. The goddess helped him create and order the cosmic universe. Thus, the goddess became his Shakti(power). Then Lord Bramha named her Vagdevi which means the goddess of speech and sound. Thus, the people of India believe the Vasant Panchami day to be the birthday of the goddess. So, they celebrate Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja every year.

2. There is another story of Saraswati Devi. It talks about her marriage to Lord Brahma. It says that Lord Vishnu was Saraswati’s first husband. He had three wives. So, he decided to give Saraswati to Lord Brahma. One day, Saraswati was late in attending a ritual. This made her husband Brahma angry. So, he created another wife Gayatri to complete the ritual. Then Saraswati became angry and cursed Brahma so that no one would ever worship him. Therefore, no temple or deity of Lord Brahma is there in the world.

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Why is Saraswati Puja celebrated?

Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja is vital to the students. Also, musicians and professionals take this to be important. Students believe that Goddess Saraswati will give them the knowledge to pass their exams. So, they keep their books and other study materials near the idol of Goddess Saraswati. Also, the singers and musicians pray to the goddess to become successful in the field of music. Moreover, artists and working professionals also pray for wisdom and happiness. Therefore, students celebrate Saraswati puja in schools and colleges.

Saraswati Puja in Kolkata is important for one more reason. There is a ritual of letting small babies write their first words. They do it on a slate with chalk. This marks the beginning of their educational journey. This ritual is done with the help of the priest. People call it Hatekhari in Bengali. People in Odisha call it Khadi-Chuan.

Where is Saraswati Puja celebrated?

Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja is celebrated in the eastern regions of India. Also, it is famous even in and north-eastern states of India. Saraswati Puja in Kolkata is famous all over India. Also, the people of Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha worship Goddess Saraswati on Vasant Panchami.

Besides, it is the day for the preparation of the festival Holi in north India. So, Vasant Panchami in north India is a time for celebration. Also, people in Rajasthan and Punjab celebrate Vasant Panchami. Besides, Nepal and Bangladesh also celebrate Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja.

How is Saraswati Puja celebrated?

Saraswati Puja in India is celebrated with great zeal by youngsters. Different places celebrate the festival in different ways. But a few things are common in all the places. Women wake up early in the morning to prepare for Saraswati Puja in India. They put turmeric paste and mustard oil on their bodies before bath. Then they wear yellow clothes. Even the male members opt for yellow clothes on this day. People bring the idol of goddess Saraswati and worship her for wisdom and learning. Moreover, the students offer Anjali to the idol. Anjali means offerings of flowers to the goddess. Prasad or sweets are offered to the idol. Moreover, people from all over India take part in flying kites. So, one can see colorful kites flying in the sky.

Saraswati puja in schools and colleges is famous in Kolkata, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Teachers and students prepare together for this celebration. They bring the idol and worship it on the school premises. Girls love wearing sarees or traditional dresses on Saraswati Puja. Likewise, boys wear Kurta pajamas on this day. You can see small children dressed up in traditional clothes gathering at their schools. Also, there are preparations for special dishes like khichdi (yellow colored dish of cooked rice and dal) and sweets. Besides, many clubs and organizations celebrate Saraswati Puja in Kolkata and other states of East India. So, one can see a lot of Saraswati puja pandals during this festival.

Vasant Panchami is an auspicious day for many states in India. So, people from other states celebrate this day differently. In North India, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat people generally enjoy kite flying on Vasant Panchami. Moreover, they wear yellow dresses. Also, People in Rajasthan wear jasmine garlands.

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When is Vasant Panchami celebrated?

Vasant Panchami is the 5^th day of the Hindu calendar month Megha. This is springtime in India. So, Vasant Panchami Saraswati Puja in India falls in the month of February. Yet, sometimes the festival can fall in January also.

This Year 2024 Saraswati Puja is celebrated on Tuesday, 14th February 2024

Saraswati Puja 2024: Date and Timings

In 2024, Saraswati Puja is expected to fall in February. The exact date may vary depending on the lunar calendar. This festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, especially in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu, as well as in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. This auspicious day marks a time of joy and reverence, as devotees across the world come together to celebrate knowledge, music, and arts.

Flexible Puja Date

Intriguingly, the Saraswati Puja for 2024 offers flexibility in terms of observance. Devotees have the choice to perform the puja either on the 13th or the 14th of February. This flexibility allows for greater participation and accommodates varying regional lunar calendar interpretations.

Tithi Timings for Saraswati Puja 2024

For those planning to observe the puja, the tithi (lunar day) begins at the early hours of 04:11 AM on February 13, 2024, and concludes at the late hour of 01:39 AM on February 14, 2024. These timings are crucial for performing rituals as per traditional Hindu practices.

Optimal Puja Time on Vasant Panchami

On Vasant Panchami, the most auspicious time for Saraswati Puja in 2024 is between 07:02 AM and 12:23 PM. This window is considered highly propitious for conducting puja ceremonies and offering prayers to the Goddess of Learning.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why do we wear yellow clothes on Vasant Panchami?

The yellow color is a symbol of spring. Thus, it marks the end of winter. Moreover, the yellow mustard flowers bloom in this season. So, we wear yellow clothes on Vasant Panchami.

On which day is Saraswati Puja celebrated during Navratri?

Saraswati Puja is celebrated on the 9th day of Navratri.

What should we eat in Saraswati Puja?

You can eat yellow colored sweets. Also, you can eat khichdi (rice and dal cooked together), labra (vegetable curry), begun bhaja(brinjal fry) and payesh(sweet rice dish),

Why does Saraswati hold a veena?

Veena in Saraswati’s hand represents knowledge. This means the goddess is spreading knowledge by playing the veena.

Where to visit in Kolkata?

You can visit Calcutta Botanical Garden and Alipore Zoo. You can visit religious sites like Dakshineshwar Temple, Kalighat Temple, and Belur Moth. Also, there are theme parks n Kolkata. They are Science City, Millennium Park, Eco Park, and Nicco Park. Moreover, you can plan a picnic beside the bank of the river or on the ground of Victoria Memorial. Besides, there are Birla Planetarium, the Children’s Museum,and the Indian Museum. Also, there is the iconic cricket ground Eden Garden.

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