Students advised to study hard during Saraswati Graduation Puja

Suma Hareesh hands out a certificate to participant Jessica Kaushal

RIVERSIDE: Fifty graduates of all ages sat down for the annual Saraswati Puja/Graduation Day/Father's Day Celebration at Riverside's Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. The students were seated in long rows before Saraswati Devi.

Head Priest Dr. Shukavak Dasa explained each step of the puja to the participants. By the end there was a coconut in front of each student which was covered with flower petals and other offerings. Each coconut was different and beautiful, almost appearing like individual works of art. As the puja ended Pandit Shukavak read and explained the Saraswati sloka from the arati verses.

He advised the students to, "bring Saraswati into your life to satisfy your desires."  Panditji then asked, "How do you bring Saraswati into your life? You study hard, listen to your teachers and those who give you knowledge. When someone gives you knowledge they are satisfying your desires."

All students received certificates which were handed out by Suma Hareesh. The program concluded with announcements of upcoming events by Mandir President Bachu Chandravadia. Children who had participated in the Annual Essay Competition held last Sunday were anxious to learn who had won.

Finally the names were read and awards were given. Vaibhavi Shah took first place with a prize of $45 in grades 3 to 6 division. Swathi Balaji was second with $35, Karan Mehtaji was 3rd with $25 and Honorable Mention went to Kriti Kumar with $15.

Since there was only one entry in the grades 7-9 category Shreya Kumar was awarded an Honorable Mention prize of $15. Winning students in grades 10 to 12 were Radhapriya Spencer in first place with a prize of $50 and Nikita Lau took second for $35.

The program, which was attended by 200 devotees, concluded with a beautiful Krishna bhajan sung by Usha Agarwal followed by arati and maha prasad.