After a gap of 19 years, this year saw Saraswati puja and Republic Day coincide. The Telegraph Salt Lake took a tour of some of the schools to check how the twin celebrations took place on the same morning.
Hariyana Vidya Mandir
Like every year, the flag-hoisting took place at 8.30 am on the school campus in presence of students but the cultural programmes on a patriotic theme that are usually held afterwards were cancelled as preparations for the puja had to start.
To combine the two occasions, the theme for this year's puja decoration was desh amar desh. The idol was placed in front of a Tricolour-inspired background with handmade decorations around the stage.
“This happens very rarely that Saraswati puja and Republic Day are being celebrated on the same day. We tried to make the most of it, as it was a day of double celebration. We planned the decorations accordingly. The students of classes VI and VII had coloured jhuris and created birds while Class XI was in charge of decorating the room,” said Shatarupa Hore, co-curricular in-charge of the day shift.
Pakhi Ghosh, a student of Class XII, was a tad upset at the coincidence.
“We could not attend Saraswati puja in school for the last two years due to Covid protocol and missed it majorly. On this day, we get to meet our seniors and former students as well. The environment is different. This is my last year of school. I wish the two occasions fell on separate days,” said the head girl of the morning shift, who came draped in a blue sari.
Mohammad Isoaib came in school uniform in order to attend the flag-hoisting. “Both occasions are cause for a lot of excitement, so this year it feels like we are being deprived of a day of celebration,” said the Class VIII student, who was busy with the decorations for the last two days with his friends.
St Francis Xavier School
“This is a unique opportunity where we get to celebrate both the occasions together. Usually there is only the flag-hoisting ceremony on Republic Day but with Saraswati Puja happening as well, the day became extra special. We had to do the the flag-hoisting a bit earlier to accommodate both occasions. Saraswati puja is held every year with a lot of devotion. Even during the pandemic, we had held the puja with following proper social distancing,” said principal Anil Srivastava.
Swapnoneel Paul was one of the few students for whom the coincidence did not make any difference. “Tomorrow is my viva exam, so I have to start revising my projects from the afternoon. I could not attend the flag-hoisting in the morning. Still I took out some time and have come to visit the puja at school to get the goddess’ blessings. All my text books are at her feet now,” said the Class XII student, who had come in kurta pyjama. “Today we are allowed to wear casual clothes, so I chose to go traditional,” he smiled.
Shreelakshmi Mukherjee had finished doing puja at home before coming to school. “Visiting school on Saraswati puja is a must. I cannot remember any other year when these two occasions had coincided. Given a choice I would always want them to be held on separate days. Many of my friends are going to watch the film Pathaan but I caught the first day first show yesterday itself. You cannot keep SRK (Shah Rukh Khan) waiting,” smiled the Class VIII student. “This year I put on traditional clothes for the first time as it is doubly exciting today.”
Kushan Mitra of Class IV too missed the flag-hoisting. But he came early to the puja to offer anjali and break his fast. “I prayed for good results,” he smiled.
Students of Bidhannagar Government High School busy with puja preparations
Puja underway at St. Francis Xavier School and Bidhannagar Municipal School. Pictures by Shatadipa Bhattacharya
Bidhannagar Municipal School
Such was the excitement for Saraswati puja after the pandemic that the students worked on all the decorations, from painting alpona to climbing the bamboo poles to hang colourful baskets all across the pandal.
“Last night, we all stayed up till 10pm in school to finish all the decorations and puja preparations. Saraswati puja is a huge celebration which allows us to come together, work and have fun at the same time. So it was not possible for us to wake up in time to be present for the flag-hosting ceremony earlier today. Wish the two occasions are always held on separate days. We missed a holiday,” said Shreyashi Poddar of Class XI, who had worn a yellow sari and was ready to enjoy a day out with friends.
But there was more work to be done. She and her friend Subhadeep Karan had to get busy right after offering anjali to fix some last-minute decoration issues. “We all came a little late as yesterday we all were busy with a variety of puja-reated chores - from shopping to bringing the idol to decorating the place. For me, Saraswati puja is the more important occasion today,” said Subhadeep, adding his group of friends would try to watch Pathaan later in the day.
Saraswati puja is all that mattered for Dishani Dhali too.
The four-year-old was perfectly dressed for Saraswati puja in a yellow sari and matching jewellery. “Ma helped me drape the sari but I chose the matching jewellery and put them on on my own. I plan to get myself clicked,” she beamed. When asked what the other important occasion of the day was, the little one was clueless.
Bidhannagar Government High School
With the two occasions clashing on the same day, the students at Bidhannagar Government High School in BD Block started making arrangements a day prior to Saraswati puja. From decoration of the school to drawing alpona to getting the idol from Kumartuli and getting the mandap ready — everything had been planned almost a month in advance.
Said Sujan Saha, a Class IX student: “During the last two years, celebrations were very low key. Even though the puja was held last year, not everyone was allowed to come to school. Only senior students came while others were asked to stay home. This time everybody was allowed in. That made a huge difference in our programme. It was fun to meet old students and alumni members.”
Headmaster S.M. Reyaz Ahmed said: “This is my first Saraswati puja at this school. We started the flag-hoisting ceremony at 8.30am and completed by 9am. Then the children quickly started with the rituals, which went on for an hour. Anjali started at 10 am. After anjali, we gave out dry fruits as prasad in packets. No community bhog was organised as we are planning to do that on February 10. On that day, a feast will be held in school for all former and current students.”
The school was decorated with Saraswati puja charts and alpona. The students also distributed prasad to guests and friends.
Salman Ali, a Class X student, said: “We had fun going to the market, preparing puja ingredients and doing up the pandal together. Even though we have Board exams soon, my friends and I couldn't miss coming to school on this day. We also observed Republic Day and participated in the flag-hoisting ceremony.”
Labanhrad Vidyapith
At Labanhrad Vidyapith, the theme for this year's Saraswati Puja was talpatar shepai. Children made hundreds of paper cutouts, about 10 inches in height, of soldiers in uniform. They then decorated the whole school, including the puja mandap, with these cutouts. “One of our ex-students, who is a professional artist, came up with this idea. He worked with us for almost a month and helped our children draw and sketch as per the theme. Once that was done, the senior students helped build the mandap and decorated the whole school building. They stayed back for almost an hour every day after school to do this work. On Saraswati puja-eve, some of them stayed back till 10pm to get things ready,” said headmaster Sajal Kanti Mondal.
Sucheta Majumder, one of the teachers in charge of the event, said: “We also had a cultural programme in the evening. There was quiz, elocution and singing. Almost 600 alumni members came for the programme. It was a grand success. There was one ex-student who makes it a point to come to Calcutta during Saraswati puja so that he can participate in the school activities. He lives in the US now, but whenever he comes home which is usually at an interval of 2-3 years he makes it a point to meet us and participate in the preparation.”
Though no community bhog was organised, students have been promised a feast in school to celebrate the occasion on a later date.
“Once in a blue moon, Saraswati puja and Republic Day fall on the same day. I remember I used to be an assistant teacher in another school when this happened last 19 years ago,” the headmaster added.
Samaresh Bhaan, a Class IX student, said: “Last year too we had the puja but on a muted scale. This time, it was wonderful, working with our teachers and following their instructions. All arrangements for Puja we made on the previous day, so there was no rush on the day itself.”
Students gathered for puja at Labanhrad Vidyapith
Labanhrad Vidyapith
At Labanhrad Vidyapith, the theme for this year's Saraswati Puja was talpatar shepai. Children made hundreds of paper cutouts, about 10 inches in height, of soldiers in uniform. They then decorated the whole school, including the puja mandap, with these cutouts. "One of our ex-students, who is a professional artist, came up with this idea. He worked with us for almost a month and helped our children draw and sketch as per the theme. Once that was done, the senior students helped build the mandap and decorated the whole school building. They stayed back for almost an hour every day after school to do this work. On Saraswati puja-eve, some of them stayed back till 10pm to get things ready,” said headmaster Sajal Kanti Mondal.
Sucheta Majumder, one of the teachers in charge of the event, said: “We also had a cultural programme in the evening. There was quiz, elocution and singing. Almost 600 alumni members came for the programme. It was a grand success. There is one ex-student who makes it a point to come to Calcutta during Saraswati puja so that he can participate in the school activities. He lives in the US now, but whenever he comes home, which is usually at an interval of two-three years, he makes it a point to meet us and participate in the preparation.”
Though no community bhog was organised, students have been promised a feast in school to celebrate the occasion on a later date.
“Once in a blue moon, Saraswati puja and Republic Day fall on the same day. I remember I used to be an assistant teacher in another school when this happened 19 years ago,” the headmaster added.
Samaresh Bhaan, a Class IX student, said: “Last year, too, we had the puja but on a muted scale. This time, it was wonderful, working with our teachers and following their instructions. All arrangements for puja were made on the previous day, so there was no rush on the day itself.”
Saraswati puja vignettes from across the twin townships
DA Block residents, from toddlers to senior citizens, spent an evening of fun and frolic on Saraswati Puja on January 26. A painting competition was arranged for children in two age groups, ranging from four to eight and nine to 12 years. The subjects they painted were varied — a garden to one’s family, the seaside to sights of the winter season. The community centre came alive with the presence of the little artists at work. All the children were handed small tokens of encouragement. Another competition was held for the ladies who had to string a garland within a minute. Some proved to be experts while some looked quite shaky.
The Saraswati idol of IC Block. There were also contests for residents of various age groups, like sit and draw and phuchka-eating
Children of Greenfield Heights in New Town pose behind a two-dimensional swan-drawn chariot of goddess Saraswati. “After two years of being trapped at home, we want to progress, hence the symbol of flight. Since it was also Republic Day, we planned the idol’s backdrop in the hues of the Tricolour,” said cultural committee member Urmimala Dasgupta. Neighbour Debashis Bhattacharya, an engineer, had lent a helping hand in the decoration, she added.