Saraswati Puja being observed today (With photos)

KATHMANDU: Shree Panchami, also known as Basanta Panchami or Saraswati Puja, is being celebrated across the country by worshipping Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, learning, art, music and culture, on Wednesday.

The festival is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the Nepali month of Magh or Falgun. People from the Hindu and Sikh communities, mainly in Nepal and eastern India, observe this festival. The festival is taken as the symbol of the advent of the spring season as plants start sprouting; winter crops like barley and wheat plants and plum, pear and peach trees start yielding and many flowering plants start blooming with this.

The day is very special for students and new learners. Students take an early bath, observe the mass Saraswati Puja in schools and visit temples and listen to the Basanta Shrawan.

Goddess Saraswati is worshipped with various names such as Bharati, Sharada, Jagatmata, Bageshwari, Kaumari, and Baradayani.

The festival is considered the best day for starting something new in human life and making a commitment to good causes.  Kids start learning alphabets and early classes on the occasion of Sri Panchami reaching various temples and pre-primary schools as well.