Residents of Gurgaon, Dwarka and Noida celebrated Vasant Panchami at several venues on February 1 and performed Saraswati Puja to mark the occasion.
Dwarka
In Dwarka, the puja was followed by cultural programmes initiated by social organisations and RWAs.
The Durga puja committees of the Bengali community organised the puja at several places. Deepanvita organised the puja in Sector 22, Bangia Samaj in Sector 6, while Aaikotan and Dakshinayan Durga Puja Committee in Sector 4. Nai Soch Nai Pahal, an NGO, also organised the puja in Sector 6 near Diamond Apartments.
Sambhav Puja Samiti organised one of the biggest puja in Dwarka at Sambhav Chowk, Sector 14. Residents of sectors 13 and 14 participated in the celebration. Various religious, cultural and recreational activities were also part of the celebration.
Residents participate in the puja organised by Nai Soch Nai Pahal, an NGO, in Sector 6 PHOTO: Akhilesh Pandey
The puja in Sector 14 organised by Sambhav Puja Samiti PHOTO: Akhilesh Pandey
Gurgaon
In Gurgaon, Saraswati Puja was held at several places, including at DLF Phase 1, South City, Sector 10, Sector 43, Suncity and Jalvayu Vihar.
Debashish Ghosh, a co-founder of Aravali Sanskritik Parishad of Suncity, said, “Every year we celebrate Saraswati Puja on Vasant Panchami. We have been celebrating the festival for 14 years. Like Durga, Saraswati is also our devi. She is a symbol of education.”
Shrigyan Sanyal, president of Gurgaon Bengali Association, said, “We have been organising the festival for several years. It’s an occasion to worship Goddess Saraswati. We’ve also organised a cultural festival.”
“Many residents of our society visited the pandal to celebrate Saraswati Puja,” said Revati Deshpanday, a resident of Wembley Estate, Sector 49.
Students perform during a cultural programme at Blue Bells Model School, Sector 4 PHOTO: Anil Manchanda
Students of Blue Bells Model School, Sector 4, pose for a photo in front of the idol of Goddess Saraswati in the school PHOTO: Anil Manchanda
Residents of Suncity township perform Saraswati Puja PHOTO: Anil Manchanda
Residents of Wembley Estate, Sector 49, during a bhajan session to mark Vasant Panchami PHOTO: Anil Manchanda
Noida
Residents of Supertech Capetown, a residential society in Sector 74, performed Saraswati Puja in the society. Cultural programmes, including dance and devotional songs by society's children, were also held on the occasion.
Shailendra Baranwal, a resident, said, "Saraswati Puja is one of my favourite festivals. I like this festival particularly because I am a teacher by profession and so devotion to the goddess comes automatically."
"I am participating in a dance competition with my team later in the day and I am excited about my performance," said Shreya Mathur, a 12-year-old resident.
The idol of Goddess Saraswati at Supertech Capetown PHOTO: Avishek Dubey
Residents during the puja in the society PHOTO: Avishek Dubey