During Navratri’s the 4th day of Saraswati Puja is called Saraswati Visarjan Day and Saraswati Udvasan.
Saraswati Visarjan refers to the immersion of the idol Saraswati. Saraswati Visarjan refers to the immersion of the idol Saraswati after the tender Navratri. The other name of this event is Saraswati Udvasan. This is the fourth and final day of the Saraswati puja. In the states of Goa, Maharashtra and some southern Indian states, Saraswati puja is played during the last three days of Navratri, namely Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami. After the auction of these three days, the idol of the goddess Saraswati receives a ceremonial goodbye and plunges into the water. Saraswati Visarjan is the day of Vijayadasami or the tenth day of Ashvin Shuklapaksha.
Rituals during Saraswati Visarjan:
Any Puja in Hindu traditions like Saraswati Puja begins with the invocation of the Goddess in a “murti” or idol. After completing the rituals, the puja eventually ends by asking the presiding deity to leave. Visarjan is a Sanskrit word that implies the final rite of respectfully asking for departure.
On the Saraswati Visarjan Pooja day devotees woke up early in the morning, after taking a bath and wear traditional clothes. The women wear ornaments and there is a custom of applying vermilion on the forehead of the other. Special sweets and food are prepared on the occasion of Saraswati Visarjan to offer the Goddess.
After finishing the puja and rituals of Saraswati Puja, on Vijayadashami day, the devotees perform the Visarjan puja. At the end of the ceremonies, after the final aarti, the idol of the goddess Saraswati Devi is taken to submerge herself in a river or sea or any body of water. The procession of Saraswati Visarjan takes place in a big way and is celebrated with dance and music. The devotees bid farewell to their goddess and look forward to their return next year.
In Southern parts of India, on the last day of Saraswati Puja, Saraswati Visarjan or Udvasan, there is a tradition of initiating a process of learning in kids. This celebration is known as “Vidya Arambham” and is celebrated with great joy in Kerala and Karnataka.
