Vasant Panchami, also called Saraswati Puja in honor of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated in Indian religions in different ways depending on the region. Saraswati puja is celebrated by Hindus. This festival has great significance for scholars and students, whose Goddess Saraswati is the embodiment of knowledge, wisdom, and learning. The word Saraswati has been derived from the two words, knowledge (Sara) and self (Sva). She is draped in a white saree or mustard colored or Basanti saree. White signifies purity and her demeanor reflects the same. In her two rear hands, she holds Lakshmana, or prayer beads in her right hand, and Pustaka, or books in her left hand. With her two forehands, she plays the musical instrument veena which symbolizes harmony. Significance of Saraswati Puja: This puja or worship of the deity of knowledge, Saraswati is done to invoke the blessings of the Goddess. She is the epitome of learning and the Goddess of vak or speech. The word vak is derived from Sanskrit and is known as flowing one. She represents the fusion of intelligence and power which marks the inception of creation itself. She is the Goddess of fine arts, such as poetry, dancing, and music, and is also the Goddess of learning. The Rituals Observed on Saraswati Puja: ● The Saraswati Puja is celebrated with a lot of gusto and zeal all over India but in South India it is only restricted to temples, unlike the eastern and northern Indian states, where it is a household affair. Enumerated below are some of the rituals of Saraswati pooja. ● The idol of the Goddess of wisdom is placed on a tool covered with a Basanti or mustard-colored cloth and books are piled up in front of the Goddess, including the Ramayana and the Bhagwad Gita. ● Chanting of shlokas, mantras from the holy texts, doing arti while singing hymns in praise of the Goddess, and ringing of bells form a vital part of the commemoration of this puja. ● Kheer, cream, curd rice, parched rice, milk, gingerly balls, parched paddy, and candies of sugarcane sugar are offered to the Goddess of learning. ● Kumkum, betel nut, turmeric, fruits, unbroken grains of rice, new cloth piece, coconut, sandalwood paste, white flowers, incense, and two ghee lamps are the other offerings made before the Goddess. ● Along with books, pens and pencils are placed in front of the statue of the deity urging her to bless the books, so that the students secure good marks in the examinations and attain high wisdom and knowledge. During Saraswati Puja obeisance is paid to the Goddess to invoke her blessings to excel in dance, science, and music. She is the grantor of memory, knowledge, and intelligence. She bestows, happiness, power of reasoning, and fame on her devotees.