BHUBANESWAR: Like several other festivals, Saraswati Puja scheduled on Tuesday will also be celebrated in a low-key manner across the state due to the Covid pandemic. The markets are missing the usual buzz, bringing no relief to idol-makers or shopkeepers.
A day before Saraswati Puja, markets saw a trickle of customers. “This year, the usual crowd is missing so the sales are also down,” said Santosh Sahu, a shopkeeper at Unit-1 market.
With most educational institutes closed on Tuesday, people are planning to hold the puja, celebrated to welcome spring and worship the goddess of knowledge, in their homes.
“Every year, students celebrate the festival in their school. Wearing new clothes, they go to school, participate in the puja, eat prasad in the feast and have lots of fun. But this year the festival is not being held in schools and children will remain at home. So we have bought a small idol and will do puja just to follow the rituals,” said Ranjita Mohanty, a homemaker.
On the auspicious occasion, many people start the formal education of their children aged three and above. The event is known as Khadi Chhuan, which marks the writing of the first letter of the Odia alphabet on a slate with the help of a priest.
Unlike Ganesh Puja, Saraswati Puja is not celebrated widely in the community. “I will do the Khadi Chhuan of my daughter but don’t know where I will take her for this as schools will be closed on the occasion. I have contacted several priests but they are all pre-booked as a large number of families are doing the puja in their homes,” said Silpi Das, a resident of Unit-8 area in the city.