Guwahati: Today is Basant Panchami, a festival which is centred on the Goddess Sarswati.
On this day, devotees, particularly students, pay obeisance to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and music. Educational institutions across the state are observing Saraswati Puja with due adherence to COVID protocols.
Schools, colleges and other educational institutions wore a festive and colourful look on the occasion as Saraswati Puja is mainly celebrated by students and teachers.
Saraswati idols in the school and college campuses were worshipped in the morning hours followed by distribution of Prasad, Khichdi, Bilai Tok (tomato chutney), Labra (seasonal mixed vegetables) and Payos (kheer).
Small pandals were also put up across the state where the people of the locality paid obeisance to the Goddess of Learning.
Cotton University Mass Com Department, TC Girls School, South Point School and few other educational institutions observed puja with great enthusiasm.
Borooah College, Gauhati Commerce College, Handique Girls College, Modern English School, KV Khanapara and the rest of the other colleges and schools observed the puja.
In Guwahati, the traffic police had a tough time managing the traffic at GNB Road, HB Road, MG Road, GS Road, RG Baruah Road and many other parts of the city. Traffic in Chandmari area witnessed a long jam due to a huge gathering at Commerce point.
However, what is different this time around is the cold weather owing to the incessant rainfall. Recently Assam’s Health and Family Welfare Minister, Keshab Mahanta, announced on Sunday that the state government will not release a new Saraswati Puja SOP.
Despite the rain and the freezing weather, Saraswati Puja was a grand affair in Guwahati with schools and colleges abuzz with students dressed (mainly girls) in their best attires. Apart from the educational institutions, banks, newspaper houses and offices also celebrated Saraswati Puja.
In Northeast’s leading media house Pride East Entertainments Pvt. Ltd. Saraswati Puja was celebrated in traditional manner on Saturday.
According to Hindu mythology, the festival marks the advent of the spring season after the biting cold of winter.
