Saraswati Puja

Today it is the holy occasion of Saraswati Puja.Devi Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and arts (in North & North East of India).

Always the very day reminds me the time while I was at home.

Weeks before the preparation of puja will start. Almost in every house they are conducting this holy occasion. The day before puja I used to go to market with ma to get the idol. It would take quit a few hours to choose the idol of our choice. So we used to start quit earlier, by morning itself. Then the other purchasing, I mean the necessities for puja, fruits & all that. Yeah, one very important thing is to get the appointment of the priest, who’d be very busy by the time. So we’ve to book the priest some 4-5 days before itself.
The entire climate will be so nice that even the environment itself will make you happy. Everywhere they’ll play aarati songs and other puja songs in every street.
Then…the very day will come, for which we are waiting for a long while. The pervious night we would hardly sleep because of the loud music of puja songs in full volume of different artists from the clubs. But we will make ourselves sleep as the next day has to get up soon. Early in the morning (around 4.30am) we used to get up, as we have to finish the arrangement for puja. As its quite early so the climate would be bit chill too. Then after taking bath we would start our work… washing puja vessels, cleaning and washing the place, cutting the fruits and all & arrange them into plates, lighting the deepam, arranging the flowers… etc.
Then the priest will arrive. Those who want to offer anjali should not eat before the offering i.e. till the puja gets over. The puja will start. To give anjali we all sit together by taking flowers in hand. Then the chanting of puja mantra will start where we have to follow the priest. The puja will continue for some 1 or 1and half hour. After that we will take the prasadam and distribute to others.
Then we’ll get ready to go to school. Actually this is the day when all supposed to dress in a traditional Bengali. So girls used to wear and go to school and it will also be too nice to see all in colorful dresses than uniforms. As even in the school too puja will be conducting so after reaching there will become busy again with various activity. Some will help in puja arrangements; some will have to look after the guests who have come from different institutes.
Mostly we would have our lunch in school itself. That day’s special menu (almost everywhere) will be Khichuri, labra (a vegetable curry specially made only for puja) and a fried item. And to be honest it would be so good.
Then after lunch we’ll form some group and move towards different schools and others places, also to visit the goddess of those places. Only by late afternoon we used to reach our home, completing the visit of almost all the places.
Evening we used o gather for the puja conducting in our area. Even the decoration will be nice to see. They’ll play the puja songs. After evening aarati we are getting the prasadam and then get back to home. Thus the wonderful day will get over with lots of unforgettable happy moments. Jai Ma Saraswati… so in this occation let us pray to bless us with proper knowledge and intellect & be with us always..