People of Hindu community on Thursday worshiped Devi Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom and fine arts, offering pushpanjoli (flower offerings) and distributing prasad among the devotees.

The open celebration of Saraswati Puja resumed this year after a two-year hiatus of corona virus pandemic.

The devotees, especially the students attired in colourful dresses, offered special prayers and observed fasting as per the ritual of the festival.

They placed books and other educational items on the foot of the idol of Saraswati to get her blessing in their educational life.

Like other years, the biggest arrangement of Saraswati Puja in Dhaka was at Jagannath Hall on Dhaka University campus.                 Students from various departments and institutes worshipped the goddess constructing 73 mandaps on different themes across the ground of Jagannath Hall. They prayed for the grace of Saraswati in the hope of being enlightened people by removing the darkness of ignorance.

The programme began at 9:00 am with the pronouncement of mantras on the hall premises. Many former students of the university also joined the celebration.

Apart from Jagannath Hall, Saraswati Puja was celebrated in different other halls of the university. Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof Md Akhteruzzaman visited the puja mandaps at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall, Rokeya Hall, Shamsunnahar Hall, Bangladesh Kuwait Maitree Hall, and Poet Sufiya Kamal Hall and greeted the students.

Many children were given hate khori, a ritual to introduce kids with education, on the day.

Saraswati Puja is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the Bangla month of Magh. The day is called ‘Vasant Panchami’.