Saraswati Puja celebrated at Fremont temple

IMG 20180121 WA0037India Post News Service
FREMONT, CA: Goddess Saraswati, regarded as the Hindu deity of music, culture and learning, was worshiped at Fremont Hindu temple with traditional pomp and gaiety on Sunday, Jan 20, Saraswati Puja is a celebration of Spring, art, culture and new beginnings. Saraswati Puja is celebrated to pay reverence to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and learning. The festival is celebrated every year on ‘Basant Panchami’, the fifth day of the Bangla month Magh, the day when goddess Saraswati is believed to be born.IMG 20180121 WA0047
Women and girls decked up in traditional bright-yellow saris signifying Basant Panchami – heralding the arrival of spring – and men and boys in kurtas offered flowers to the deity, as families shared prasad.
This program was organized by FOG Bengal team and Fremont Hindu temple. Hundreds of students and residents of surrounding areas thronged the temple and prayed before the goddess idol. The rituals started early morning and continued till noon with priests chanting mantras and devotees placing seasonal Palash flowers at the deity’s feet to the ringing sounds of conch shells.

IMG 20180121 WA0053On the auspicious day, students also place their books on the feet of the idol to seek her blessings. In Hindu belief, Goddess Saraswati is believed to be the Goddess of knowledge, wisdom, art and culture. There is a popular ritual of introducing toddlers to writing on the divine occasion of Saraswati Puja.