HOW TO DO SARASWATHI PUJA AT HOME -AYUTHA POOJA CELEBRATIONS

blessing, decorated plank, decoration, keeping idol, neivedyam, popular festival, signifies, symbol of peace, wisdom

Ayudha Pooja Celebrations

Saraswathi is the Goddess who signifies knowledge, learning, arts and culture.She is the symbol of peace and purity.So she is always adorned in white clothes. Saraswati Puja is a popular Hindu festival dedicated to the Goddess of learning Saraswati. This festival is marked as the birth of Goddess. In 2017, Saraswati puja/ Ayudha pooja is celebrated on Sepetember 29th,Friday. This day is of special importance for the students as they place their books at the Goddess praying for wisdom and blessings for their success in life. It is an important part of the Navaratri festival, especially in South India.

The last three days of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi. The last day of Navratri, also known as the Mahanavami day is celebrated as Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja. It is celebrated at different time in different parts of India. The popular festival Dussehra is celebrated in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala,Gujarat & West bengal but in a different manner .In Gujarat, Saraswati Puja during Diwali is also known as Sharda Puja and Chopda Puja. On Durga Ashtami day, Books and tools and are arranged in the puja room i.e in front of the idol of Goddess Saraswati .It should not be touched on the Mahanavami day and they should be removed from the pooja only on the Vijayadashami day i.e the next day of Saraswathi pooja.

Traditions of Saraswathi Pooja:

In our house,we celebrate it by keeping the Sarawathi Idol in a decorated plank.Garland with flowers and lotus.We arrange the books and other tools by cleaning them.We keep turmeric & KumKum dots on all the books,tools,laptop and other accessories.The previous day, we sweep the entire house including doors, windows,all electronic & electric items and keep the turmeric, kumkum dots.So if you celebrate Saraswathi pooja at home,u must keep your house clean.

If you are already doing Navratri Puja/Kept golu, you can use the same decorations. Make sure everything must be ready by the evening of the 8th day of Navratri.
On Saraswathi Pooja day ie ninth day of Navratri, books and tools that are kept for Saraswati puja should not be touched.

Pooja Requirements:

*Image or idol of Goddess Saraswati
*Plank/Peeta or a wide plate for placing the idol.
*A white cloth (vastram)
*Flowers – lotus or jasmine.
*Mango leaves & other decorations
*Turmeric
*Kumkum
*Raw Rice
*Coconut, betel leaves & nuts
*Banana & Locally available Fruits
*Banana leaf for keeping neivedyam
*Other pooja items like oil,ghee,camphor,incense stick and sambrani/Dhoop.
*Puffed rice with gram dal, peanuts and jaggery
*Soak raw rice for an hour, drain the excess water.Mix grated jaggery & cardamom to this.We call it as THULLU MAAVU. We keep this for neivedyam along with other dishes.