`Basant Panchami' - Celebrations All Over- Swaraswati Puja

`Basant Panchami' the day which marks the end of winter and spring in India. Flowers bloom all round symbolise the change in environment. The whether shakes of the coolness. Sun shines brightly. It is referred to as a harvest festival. While South India observes the day as `Sri Panchami', it is celebrated as Swaraswati Puja in West Bengal. Goddess Swaraswati is worshiped. It is one of the most important festivals of West Bengal. Government Offices of the state are closed. So are Banks. Schools, Colleges are closed and they hold puja of Maa Swaraswati. Maa is the Goddess of wisdom, learning music , art and science.

Basant Panchami is celebrated on the 5th day of the lunar eclipse in the month of `Magh' ( Mid January - February). Swaraswati Puja was held on 5th February each year.

The puja involves the participation of both the young and elders. The Goddess is worshiped with an idol or a photograph which is placed on a wooden plank. Cloth or paper with the colour yellow is spread over the plank. Youngsters place books for studies , pens, slates at the feet of the Goddess. A lamp is lighted before the idol or photo. Chandan tika and kumkum are placed on the forehead of the Goddess. `Anjali' with flowers is a must for seekers of her blessings. A priest performs the puja . Puja of Maa Swaraswati must be with `Palash' flower.

The colours yellow and white are mainly used for the puja . Youngsters wear yellow colour dresses. The fruit , Berry is first eaten after the puja. No one dares to eat Berries before the puja day. `Kichudi' . `Payas' , fruits and sweets are served as the `prasad' offered to the Goddess.

Yellow colour is corollary to the celebration of `Basant Panchami'. Flowers of yellow colour of the mustard crop bloom on this day. The darker shade of yellow is also referred to as `Basanti'. Yellow colour symbolises positivity and that is the reason people wear yellow coloured clothes on the day.

On the day `Radha' and `Krishna' are worshiped in UP. In Punjab kites are flown. Swaraswati Puja in West Bengal ushers in giety all round. Community pujas are held . One can see decorated pandals and lighting. One can see `alpanas' on the floor used to welcome the Goddess. Kalna in Burdwan district in West Bengal celebrates the puja in a big way. There are pandals and lighting of community pujas and the people of the place are in high spirit. In September, 2021 , Dr Gouranga Goswami, a physician who charged only Rs 5 as his chamber fee that too many did not pay lost his life due to Covid. He fought relentlessly to help people to survive but ultimately the virus got the better of him. People of Kalna are grief stricken. So are the people of the adjoining places of Hooghly and Nadia district. He was the Chairman of Kalna Municipality. Dr Gowami was always helped those who sought help. Lions Club of Kalna paid respect to the departed soul by show casing his work for the people. Competition through games with prizes for the winners arranged.

`Basanti Panchami' and Swaraswati Puja are a part of life of the people of West Bengal. However, the puja is not restricted to the state alone. Puja is performed in different states other than West Bengal also. This year,`Heritage Bengal Global, London ' celebrated the puja for the first time at Jarastian Centre in Harrow area of London . `Colours of India' also joined the group. In the pandal a portion was alloted to honour Artist Padmashree Narayan Debnath who died this year. A cultural programme was held in the evening. The celebration is a step to spread Swaraswati Puja celebration globally. It is considered first of the steps towards celebration of UNESCO recognised Durga Puja which is set to commence on 1st October this year.

The next day after Swaraswati Puja, people write with the pens made of stick immersed in the pots `Swaraswati Namo' thrice. A preparation is made of curd and `khai' and given to devotees. In the evening the idols of community pujas are immersed. Idols of Maa worshiped in the houses are kept to be immersed before the puja next year . While the idol of Maa Swaraswati is taken to be immersed in the nearest river or pond, the devottees shout , ` Swaraswati Maa Ki Jai' and they go on until the idol is immersed in the water.

`Vidya Jong Devi Namostute'

This year the day after the puja coincided with the death of Lata Mangeshkar who was considered `Maa Swaraswati' for her golden voice. Her departure made all feel as if Maa Swaraswati had realy bid good bye to earth on her departure day.