Saraswati Puja in Chittaranjan Park

[Guest guest]

NEW DELHI (monday, Jan 26, 2004) - While the rest of Delhi revelled

in the Republic Day fervour, the city's Bengali community had an

additional reason to celebrate on Monday.

 

It was Saraswati Puja — traditional worship of the goddess of

learning. The fact that the day coincided with a national holiday

added to the merry-making.

 

All roads inevitably lead to Chittaranjan Park , which seemed to be

flooded with people dressed in various hues of yellow. Basanti, a

shade of yellow, is associated with the goddess. Every year, the

community, especially toddlers and schoolchildren, whose goddess

Saraswati is principally said to be, make a beeline for whatever part

of their wardrobe that might have even a faint yellow tinge.

 

Alapon Sen, a Gurgaon-based economist, who had come to C R Park for

the puja, said, "Even though it is usually thought to be a festival

for children, there is such a strong feeling of nostalgia of my own

school days associated with this festival, that I just cannot resist

coming here."

 

Contrary to the five-day extravaganza marking the "arrival" of Durga

[i.e. Navratri, in the autumn], Saraswati gets a much more modest

reception. But the serpentine queues at the pandals, both for the

morning prasad and then the afternoon bhog were definitely

reminiscent of the enthusiasm of the autumn festival.

 

After this, the evening "cultural" programmes were to follow, most of

them impromptu and featuring the almost indispensable rendition of a

couple of Tagore songs and some equally hurriedly cobbled dance

programmes.

 

URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/445857.cms