Goddess Saraswati is the mother of the Vedas according to Hindu mythology. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on the day of ‘Vasant Panchami’ (the spring festival) and is held between January – February which is actually the fifth day of the ‘Magha’ month of the Hindu calendar. As per Hindu mythology, on this day, Goddess Saraswati, daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati was born.

Saraswati Pujo is normally enacted during morning hours amidst chants of ‘mantras’ and ‘shlokas’. The idol of the deity is wrapped in a white sari, she holds ‘Veena’, an Indian string instrument and books in her four hands and sits on a white lotus, a symbol of purity while having a white swan as ‘Vahana’ a sign of righteousness. Among other fruits, ‘Kool’ or Plums are offered to the goddess and later eaten as ‘Prasad’. Bengalis don’t eat Plums before Saraswati Pujo as an age-old belief. ‘Palash’ flower blooming in the spring season forms an integral part of this Pujo.