Odisha celebrates Saraswati Puja with religious fervour

Bhubaneswar: Being one of the most significant festivals, Saraswati Puja is being celebrated with religious fervours across Odisha today. Several schools and other educational institutions have made elaborate arrangements to perform special rituals to worship Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge.

Amid chanting of hymns, children in Bhubaneswar invoked the goddess in their respective schools.

#WATCH: Students take part in #SaraswatiPuja celebrations in #Bhubaneswar#Odishapic.twitter.com/f4RShu5VpI

— OTV (@otvnews) February 10, 2019

The day also marks the beginning of the chariot making process for the Rath Yatra in Puri. All preparations have been made by the temple administration to kick start the process today.

Students of Sudarsan Sand Art Institute created a unique sand sculpture in Puri to pay tributes to goddess Saraswati.

"The sculpture has been made by girls and we also wanted to give a message on women empowerment on the auspicious day," said Nivedita Mishra, a student.

#WATCH: Students of Sudarsan Sand Art Institute come up with a unique sand sculpture in #Puri to pay tributes to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge #SaraswatiPuja#BasantPanchami#Odishapic.twitter.com/nhcUT9baZZ

— OTV (@otvnews) February 10, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind greeted the people of the country on the occasion of Basant Panchami today.

नव उमंग, नई ऊर्जा एवं नव स्फूर्ति के प्रतीक-पर्व बसंत पंचमी की सभी देशवासियों को ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएं। मेरी कामना है कि विद्या की देवी मां सरस्वती सबको ज्ञान एवं सद्‌बुद्धि प्रदान करें।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2019

Through a tweet, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also extended his wishes to the people of the State.

ପବିତ୍ର ବସନ୍ତ ପଞ୍ଚମୀ ଓ ମା’ ସରସ୍ଵତୀଙ୍କ ପୂଜା ଅବସରରେ ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ। ବିଦ୍ୟାଦାୟିନୀ ମା’ ସରସ୍ଵତୀଙ୍କ ଅପାର କରୁଣାରୁ ସଭିଙ୍କ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ହେଉ। pic.twitter.com/W6STpI5Ip8

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) February 10, 2019