Saraswati Puja Celebrated Amid Covid Restrictions In Odisha

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Bhubaneswar: The people of Odisha will celebrate Saraswati Puja (Basant Panchami) amid Covid 19 restrictions today. A guideline has also been issued by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).

As per the issued guidelines, people are advised to perform the rituals/puja on the occasion of Saraswati Puja at home with family members only avoiding mass gatherings. They have also been asked to adhere to the Covid-19 restrictions such as physical distancing, use of face masks/ covering, and handwashing or hand sanitizer.

The celebration of Saraswati Puja has been allowed at all educational institutions with the participation of a limited number of students as per the protocols. However, the celebration will be allowed to be celebrated in public places other than in schools and educational institutions.

“People are advised to perform the rituals/puja on the occasion of Saraswati Puja at home with family members only avoiding mass gatherings and adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols such as physical distancing, use of face mask/ covering and hand washing/ hand sanitizer. No community feast associated with puja/festivals during the period shall be allowed. There shall be no musical or any other entertainment programme on the occasion of Saraswati Puja,” read the guidelines.

Odisha Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a mesmerizing sand art of Maa Saraswati and posted a picture of the same on his official Twitter account. He wrote “Prayers for all. My sandart on the occasion of #SaraswatiPuja at Puri beach.”


Adding to it, Saraswati Puja has been allowed in temples but no devotees will be permitted. In schools, very few students should be in attendance for the puja celebrations. Large congregations at river banks, ghats, ponds and beaches for bathing are prohibited.

It is to be noted that the festival of Saraswati Puja (Basant Panchami) holds utmost importance for students as Maa Saraswati is believed to be the Goddess of Knowledge. Hence, on this day devotees observe fast, follow rituals, sing hymns, and celebrate the day by offering delicious prasad to the deity.

This festival falls on the fifth day of the bright Lunar cycle. The festival gets its name from ‘Basant’ which means spring and ‘Panchami’ the fifth day of the Magha month. This year it will be celebrated on 5th February 2022. The shubh muhurat for the panchami tithi begins at 3:47 am and continues till 3:46 am on February 6.

The most interesting part about this festival is that on this day students keep their books and pens around the deity’s feet and do not touch the books until the puja is over.

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