BOSTON: Vasant Panchami, evening puja of Ma Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, art, music, and learning , was performed by of devotees and children at the Shivalaya Temple of Greater Boston on Friday, February 12.
This is one of the biggest festivals of India, celebrated with much devotion and reverence. In the midst of cold weather, hundreds of Boston devotees thronged to offer their prayers and became part of the celebration. The program started with Bhajans by Mohan Ji and his daughter who created a spiritual atmosphere in the shrine by their melodious singing. Later, Nishikant Ji amazed all devotes with his wonderful Tabla performance.
Pandit Jay Narayan BadalJi performed a very elaborative Ma Saraswati Puja with Vedic rituals and chanted the sacred hymns with utmost devotion. Mohan Ji and Nishikant Ji participated in the puja along with their family members.
On this day, Ma Saraswati was dressed in yellow garments and worshipped with yellow flowers and fruits. Yellow color holds a special meaning for this celebration as it signifies the brilliance of nature and the vibrancy of life as India’s fields are filled with yellow flowers at this time of the year.
Many devotees wore clothes of this color on the day and kept their pens, notebooks, and pencils near the goddess Saraswati’s feet to seek her blessings. Schoolchildren and toddlers, especially, made a beeline in their best dresses especially in yellow color to offer prayers on Saraswati puja.
This festival has special significance for the students and they prayed most enthusiastically to her. Young children were taught their first words on this day, since it is considered an auspicious day to begin formal education. Pandit Badal Ji blessed all children to have good education and successful careers in life.
Maha Mangalarati was followed by serving of delicious Maha Prasad with many sweets to all the devotees. The Temple president Vijay Kumar Selhi thanked all the devotees, Bhajan singers, Tabla player, Prasad distribution team, and children for their enthusiastic participation and making this event a grand success.
Geetha Patil
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