Saraswati Puja: Then and Now!

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Devansh Malhotra performing Saraswati Puja at his home in New Jersey. PHOTO: Provided by Vikram Malhotra

Saraswati Puja is a day when personified knowledge is worshipped on the Basant Panchami day. The air hums with Sanskrit prayers, with half the neighborhood away  either at a wedding or a feast.

That used to be how my Basant Panchami in India was. My celebration of Basant Panchami looked quite different here in the US. My family and I celebrated this festival on a much smaller scale. We placed a small idol of Goddess Saraswati in our home altar, neatly arranged our books in front of her, and performed our prayers.

The ritual was soothing and peaceful, but I couldn’t help but think about how different it would have been in India. There, Saraswati Puja is a grand spectacle. Huge statues of the goddess are set up in schools and temples. People dress in yellow to mark the arrival of spring and entire communities come together in celebration.

Bhog and flower offerings at the Saraswati Puja at Devansh Malhotra’s home. PHOTO: Provided by Vikram Malhotra
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While I was lighting incense and chanting prayers in my living room, my grandfather in India had spent the whole day rushing from one wedding to another. Every time I called him, he was either at a wedding sampling sweets or heading to another wedding. He said it seemed like half the city had chosen the same day to get married!

Of course, no Basant Panchami celebration is complete without food. Even though our celebration in the US was quieter, we still had a few traditional dishes my mom made to mark the occasion. She prepared a simple yet flavorful saffron-flavored semolina pudding. She also made pilaf, a fragrant rice dish made with spices.

Our meal was delicious and comforting. But I knew that in India, the feast would have been much grander. There, we celebrated the festival with massive community feasts. Temples served bhogs, a meal that included rice, lentils, fried vegetables and sweets, to thousands of people.

Sharing a meal with the community was one of the most heartwarming parts of Basant Panchami day. It was a reminder of how important it is to be together and celebrate life’s blessings. I miss that sense of togetherness, the large crowds and the warmth of the community.

The decorated altar for Saraswati Puja at Devansh Malhotra’s home. PHOTO: Provided by Vikram Malhotra

Later in the evening, I called a few friends in India about their day. Their messages were filled with pictures of grand pujas, towering idols of Goddess Saraswati, and streets decorated with festival lights. They also sent me videos of children placing their books before the goddess, hoping for her blessings on their studies—and probably hoping for a little extra luck in their upcoming exams too.

Watching all those celebrations from a distance made me feel nostalgic. I could almost hear the sounds of conch shells, the rhythmic beating of drums, and the chants of mantras filling the air, reminding me of how much energy and devotion are packed into these celebrations.

Even though my Basant Panchami celebration was quieter, it still carried the essence of the festival—a deep connection to knowledge, tradition, and celebration. It reminded me that festivals are not just about how big the event is, but about the feelings they bring—devotion, joy, and togetherness. Whether in a grand celebration in India or a small prayer in my living room in the US, the spirit of Basant Panchami remains the same.

Still, I can’t help but hope that next year I’ll be able to experience the full grandeur of the festival in India.

(Devansh Malhotra, 14, is a high school sophomore 10th grader at the West Windsor Plainsboro High School South)