The Goddess In White

Today is Basant Panchami – the beginning of spring. For Bengalis it’s the much awaited Saraswati Pujo – the day Maa Saraswati or the Goddess of Knowledge is worshipped.

The colours associated with Maa Saraswati are white or yellow (symbolising spring). She is, therefore, worshipped with white/yellow flowers and sweets of the same colour. The bhog or prasaad is either white pulao with vegetables or yellow khichuri.

The Lady in White or Mother Goddess Saraswati is also  a symbol of purity and erudition. She is a virgin beauty unattainable and pious. She is said to have a royal temper too. I guess she is impatient with stupidity and arrogance.

In Kolkata, we used to have Saraswati Puja at home the big way i.e., placement (and after the puja visarjan or immersion) of the deity, inviting the priest to do the pujo and preparing and offering the home cooked (by my mother and grandmother) bhog prasaad.

Here, for various reasons, I have minimised the rituals to offering flowers, sweets and prayers to Maa followed by a visit to the nearest pandal (community worship) where I offer Pushpanjali and partake of the bhog.

But it’s been raining relentlessly since last night which has dampened the celebratory mood considerably as it means no visit to the pandal.

Coming back to childhood memories, Saraswati Puja quintessentially meant leave from studies. We are supposed to place our books, notes and pens at Maa’s feet for her blessings. Otherwise, we were told Maa would get angry. And I was really very scared of that. I believe this is to give a breather to the students who are deep into academics. But what about those like me who always looked for excuses to not study? Maa, in all her glory, is there for all – the devouts as well as the truants.

The other thing which made this day special was the saree (white or yellow) I got to wear, of course, borrowed from my mother’s wardrobe. By now, I guess, for the youngsters the thrill of wearing a saree has waned. 

It is also customary for parents to give haatey khori to their kids on this day sitting at Maa’s feet. Haatey (meaning hand) khori means a kid learns to write the first letter of the alphabet on a slate/paper/leaf with traditional quill or khori/ chalk or pencil aided by the priest and the parents.

There used to be another ritual of trimming the girl child’s hair on this day with a silent wish so that her hair grows longer like Maa’s. I do not know whether this ritual is still practised.

We have to start the day next of the puja by writing “Om Sri Sri Saraswatwai Namah” three times in our notebook before getting back to routine.

For a Baangaali how can puja be complete without pet puja or satiating the stomach. So, the ritual is to have khichuri with joda ilish, i.e. a pish-pash of rice and lentil with a pair of Hilsa fish. Hilsa is a delicacy, rather astronomically priced and almost unmanageable to eat because of its fine bones. My mother was once hospitalized because a bone got stuck in her throat which refused to come out!!

Anyway, overcome by memory pangs, I have altered my dietary schedule of the day slightly. I had breakfast with bathua ka parantha with dhaniya imli ki chutney. For lunch I am going to make something which I have not made for years. So I am keeping my fingers crossed. 

A Sanskrit shloka has been playing on my mind since morning :  विद्यां ददाति विनयं विनयाद् याति पात्रताम् । पात्रत्वात् धनमाप्नोति धनात् धर्मं ततः सुखम् –  which essentially means knowledge brings humility, humility, brings worthiness,  worthiness brings wealth, wealth brings righteousness and righteousness brings happiness.

In tandem with the shloka, the lyrics of Sahir Ludhyanvi’s soul stirring bhajan (prayer song) expresses it so aptly

ओ सारे जग के रखवाले /O saarey jag ke rakhwale

निर्बल को बल देनेवाले /Nirbal ko bal dene waale

बलवानों को दाता/ Balwaanon ko data

देदे ज्ञान/ De de gnyan

O The Protector of this World

Who bestows strength to the weak

Do bestow enlightenment to the strong

I pray Maa bestows on us her blessings so that we seek the path of enlightenment with humility and submission and utlize her gift of knowledge for the betterment of this world.

Today is also interestingly Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birthday. Netaji,  academically brilliant,  was the first Indian to pass the very tough Indian Civil Service or ICS exam in the year 1920 but left the administrative services in 1921 to fight for the independence of his motherland. He was an astute strategician, a magical orator and a charismatic leader. Though his life is surrounded by enigma and controversy yet his contribution to India’s freedom struggle against colonial rule is legendary.

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