On Monday, students were seen making a beeline for their schools in large numbers to pay obeisance to the goddess. And why not, the higher secondary and matric examinations scheduled to be held from February 14 and 21 respectively.
Ankur Das, an HSLC candidate, said, "We have organised a puja at home. I came to my school to offer anjali so that I can perform well in the exam."
Though students are aware that it was more important to be prepare thoroughly first, seeking god's blessings would definitely give them the much-needed confidence to face the tests.
Papoli Das, another HSLC candidate, said, "One should keep in mind that merely seeking god's blessings was not sufficient. One has to also work hard. But when you pray to god, you feel secured and more confident." For the matric and HS candidates, this is the last time they are getting to meet their friends as after the exams, most of them might even move out for further studies.
Divyani Baruah, an HS candidate, feels this is the last time she is meeting all her friends together as she would be moving to Delhi after the exam. "I am trying to get an admission in the JNU and some other friends of mine would be going to Bangalore and Kolkata. So, we might not be able to come to the city for Saraswati Puja next year. So, we are ensuring that we make the most of this occasion."
She added, "All these years, we have spent Saraswati Puja together. But it would be different from now on. So, we are a little sad aout it." Though students are engrossed in studies now, they love the fact that their parents don't nag them to study on Saraswati Puja.
Surajit Purkyastha, another student, said, "We have been studying constantly all these days. But on Saraswati Puja, parents don't ask us to study and we get a well-deserved break. I would spend the whole day with my friends today."
Anupam Talukdar, the father of a matric candidate, said, "It seems there is a ritual that one should not study on Saraswati Puja as all books and other writing materials are kept before the idol of the goddess. But I don't think it is true. But since this tradition has been followed for generations now, people have assumed that it as a norm not to study on this day as this might bring bad luck."
But some believe that it is merely an excuse to get away without studying on this day. Animta Deb, a school teacher, said, "There is no such rule that studying on Saraswati Puja is bad."