On the auspicious days of Navaratri, the students and faculty members of the School of Arts and Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi campus, came together to seek the blessings of the goddess of knowledge, music, art, and culture. The day was celebrated with great fervor on September 30, 2019. The Saraswati puja was held according to tantric rituals by Vedic chanting and Moola Mantras. The ritual was graced with the presence of Pujaneeya Swami Purnamritananda Puri (General Secretary, Mata Amritanandamayi Math), Sri Balakrishna Bhat (Principal, Tantra Vidya Peetham), Sri Gopalakrishna Gopi (Executive Director, Tantra Vidya Peetham) and Dr. U. Krishnakumar (Dean, Faculty of Arts, Media & Commerce and Director, School of Arts and Sciences, Kochi).

The program was commenced by lighting the lamp and seeking the blessings of her graceful Sadguru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. The Puja led by Sri. Balakrishna Bhat was a mix of traditional tantric rituals and its explanations. He not only performed the puja but also enlightened the students and staff with the need for worshiping Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge. “Saraswati Puja doesn’t differ from any other Devi Puja,” said Sri Balakrishna Bhat, “The only difference is in the Moola Mantras. The chanting of Moola Mantras is an integral part of any Puja. It is this that reaches into her almighty’s ears and thereby gets its result.” The puja ended with the ever so pure Aarathi by all those who participated in the Puja. The campus was filled with the melodious tunes of bhajans sung by the students.

Saraswati Puja is just another attempt by the students and staff to preserve the Indian culture and to impart a sense of respect towards long-established traditions. Both the faculty members and students joined hands together, with great zeal to make the event a memorable one also evoking the blessing of the goddess of knowledge to have a successful academic and carrier growth. More than 300 students and faculty members took part in this prestigious ritual. Everyone in the campus came together under one roof to celebrate the day.