Saraswati Puja in Varanasi

Saraswati Puja samagri list

• Saraswati idol or picture
• White or yellow cloth
• Kalash with mango leaves and coconut
• White and yellow flowers, including marigold
• Chandan, haldi, kumkum and akshat
• Yellow vastra or chunri
• Books, pens and musical instruments to be placed before the Goddess
• Ghee diya, camphor and incense
• Kesar kheer, boondi or yellow sweets
• Ber (jujube) and seasonal fruits
• Betel leaves and supari
• Panchamrit and Ganga jal
• Slate or plate of rice, for vidyarambh

The Pandit confirms the final list for your family's vidhi, and Pandit ji can arrange the samagri in Varanasi at an additional cost, agreed after discussion.

Saraswati Puja vidhi, step by step

1. 1Altar preparation. An idol or picture of Saraswati is placed on a white or yellow cloth, with books, pens and instruments arranged nearby.
2. 2Ganesh Pujan and sankalp. Ganesha is worshipped first, then the sankalp is taken with names, gotra and intention, often including students' names.
3. 3Kalash sthapana and avahan. The kalash is established and Goddess Saraswati is invoked with Vedic mantras.
4. 4Offerings. The Goddess is offered white and yellow flowers, chandan, akshat, yellow vastra, incense, lamp and naivedya such as kesar kheer, boondi or seasonal ber fruit.
5. 5Vandana and stotra path. The Saraswati Vandana, Saraswati Stotram and mantra japa are recited by the Pandit and family.
6. 6Vidyarambh (optional). If a child is starting education, they are guided to write their first letters, often Om, on rice or a slate.
7. 7Aarti and pushpanjali. The family performs aarti and offers flowers, and prasad is shared.