To celebrate the day of learning, we Indians get together to celebrate Saraswati Puja today, also known as Basant Panchami. And the day is very special to the people of Kolkata, especially Bengalis as they celebrate this day with lots of devotion. It’s the day when in-arm minors are made to sit on the lap of the priest in front of the Goddess and scribble the first letters of their lives. This is the day when youngsters let go off their books and place them on the feet of Maa Saraswati for her to bless them to acquire abundance of knowledge all year around. Men apply turmeric and wear yellow shaded clothes as a mark to celebrate Basant Panchami, while young girls and boys dress up in their best traditional attires and go around the city visiting several pandals and relishing delicious bhog (khichri). Tellychakkar.com decided to talk to some Bengali actors from the television industry and asked them to share their memories of Saraswati Puja. Beautiful Bong beauty Pratyusha Bannerjee, who was last seen in the last season of Bigg Boss, is missing her family today on this special occasion of Saraswati Puja. “Yes, back in my hometown, my people are celebrating Saraswati Puja on a big scale. Besides puja, all the other rituals would be performed at my place. It is one of the biggest festivals that the Bengalis celebrate. As I am away from my family, I really miss them and wish I had celebrated this auspicious day with them,” she rued. Later we got in touch with the handsome actor Rohit Roy who said, “Well, though we don’t follow all the rituals, but yes I and my family will go to a Saraswati Puja pandal and seek the blessings of the Goddess. Today, you will see all Bengali women wearing yellow coloured sarees. Accordingly, my mom and my wife will also deck up in a yellow saree. As Maa Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge, learning and music, I wish that may she bless everyone with education, health and prosperity.” Lastly when we got in touch with Sayantani Ghosh, who was last seen in Mahabharat, she shared, “I am badly missing my family today. Back in Kolkata we celebrate this festival performing all the rituals. At my place we used to wake up early in the morning and perform puja. Both me and my mom wear beautiful yellow coloured sarees and my mom prepares coconut ladoos on the occasion. I remember as a kid, I used to place my pens, books and musical instruments on the feet of the idol the entire day. Moreover Saraswati Puja is also celebrated in all schools and other institutions. On this day the student folk dress up well and go to school. Traditionally, the day is a no-study day for students who are happy to give their textbooks a miss to participate in the functions.” She adds, “In Kolkata, it’s like Valentine’s Day celebration. Boys and girls dress up in their best traditional avatar and go around the city eyeing the other sex with full freedom. But I never did this in my childhood and preferred celebrating Sarawati Puja with my family. With this I wish all my fans Happy Saraswati Puja. May the Goddess bless all with happiness peace and good health.” Happy Saraswati Puja to everyone!!!