‘Saraswatyai Namah’ reverberates in air as Nagpur's Bengalis celebrate Basant Panchami

Nagpur: The city witnessed a vibrant display of devotion on Friday as various Bengali associations across Nagpur organised Saraswati Puja to mark Basant Panchami, celebrating the goddess of knowledge, music and arts. Community halls, housing societies and association premises resonated with prayers, hymns and the traditional chants of ‘Om Aim Saraswatyai Namah' since early morning.Members of the Bengali community, dressed in traditional attire — women in yellow sarees symbolising the arrival of spring and men in dhotis and kurtas —gathered at puja venues with books, musical instruments and pens placed before the idol, seeking blessings for wisdom and learning. One such puja venue at the Community Hall, Seminary Hills, decorated with elegant floral arrangements and traditional motifs, reflected the deep-rooted cultural ethos associated with the festival. The puja here was organised by Maa Kali Foundation.The rituals began with the main puja in the morning, performed by priests amid devotional music, followed by Pushpanjali, where devotees offered flowers to Goddess Saraswati. Children and students formed a significant part of the gathering, underscoring the festival's special importance for learners.Paschim Nagpur Bangiya Samiti celebrated the 10th year of Saraswati Puja at the Institute of Engineers. Morning puja and arti were followed by Hatekhori and Anjali, conducted as per traditional Bengali customs. Around 200 devotees took part in the celebrations and received blessings and Mahaprasad. An evening cultural programme added vibrancy to the event, with performances by Pronoy Thakur, Amika Thakur, Sujata Ghosh, Arpita Bag, Sukanto Nandi and Vinay Thakur.Post rituals, devotees across venues were served Bhog Prasad, fostering a sense of community bonding. Several associations, including Sarbojonin Durga Utsav Committee, Dixit Nagar, also organised Saraswati Puja. Organisers Bowmkesh Biswas, Pradeep Mukherjee and Dr Sanjeeb Ukil said the festival remains a vital cultural anchor for Bengalis living away from their native state.