



Dilip Guha ★ New Delhi : The festival of Basant Panchami is being celebrated with great pomp across the country. This festival is celebrated on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Magh month. Mother Saraswati is especially worshiped on this day. According to mythological belief, Mother Saraswati was born on the day of Basant Panchami.
The name “Saraswati” is derived from two Sanskrit words: “Saras” and “Vati.” Saraswati is the goddess of learning and knowledge. While “Saras” can mean “lake,” it also refers to “speech.” The term “Vati” means “the one who holds.” Therefore, Saraswati represents the goddess who embodies and possesses speech.
On the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami, Saraswati Puja was celebrated with great fervor across Delhi NCR on Monday, February 3 Feb 2025. The celebratory atmosphere in the national capital region was immersed in the devotional fervor of Saraswati Puja.
Saraswati Puja is a devotional ceremony in which students offer flowers at the lotus feet of Goddess Saraswati at various educational institutions. During Vasant Panchami, boys traditionally wear yellow Punjabi outfits, while young girls don yellow sarees.
Raisina Bengali School, Mandir Marg New Delhi also organized a Saraswati Puja celebration to commemorate the annual dedication to the Goddess of learning. The unbounded enthusiasm and creativity of the students were testimony to their creativity.
This year, the significance of this day has been amplified because it coincides with the school’s centenary celebrations. Over the decades, the school has evolved into a prominent English medium senior secondary school, affiliated with the CBSE curriculum, and has gained a reputation for its significant contributions to Delhi’s educational environment.
While providing modern education, the school has also played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the Bengali language, literature, and culture in Delhi. It serves as a space where students not only excel academically but also connect with their roots, learning to appreciate the richness of their heritage.
The auspicious event of Basant Panchami is a significant cultural and religious festival where students and staff come together to pay homage to Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge and wisdom. The celebration typically includes devotional songs, prayers, and cultural performances to honor the goddess and seek her blessings for academic success. It’s a beautiful tradition that fosters a sense of community and devotion among the students and faculty.
A beautifully decorated idol of Goddess Saraswati was installed and worshipped.
The celebration began with a rendition of Saraswati Vandana dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, featuring a breathtaking presentation by the students invoking the Goddess of learning.
Festivities witnessed devotion and reverence towards Goddess Saraswati during the puja. Children were visibly excited about the Saraswati Puja, displaying a special enthusiasm. Students enthusiastically participated in the puja, offering prayers to Goddess Saraswati. Young students both boys and girls, gathered at the puja to worship the Goddess of knowledge, Maa Saraswati. The school premises were filled with the aroma of traditional Bengali cuisine, including sweets. Students and devotees also enjoyed other traditional dishes like khichuri and labra, known as Maa er Bhog.
On the occasion of Basant Panchami, the Principal extended warm greetings and blessings to the students. She encouraged them to advance in their pursuit of knowledge with unwavering devotion and dedication. She emphasized that the pursuit of knowledge should be the ultimate goal of our lives, guiding us away from ignorance and helping us become worthy human beings. Additionally, she urged the students to lead disciplined lives in order to invoke the grace of the Goddess in their lives.
