Saraswati Puja, worshipping the Goddess of knowledge, music, art and culture, will be celebrated across the country on Monday amid enthusiasm, festivity and religious fervour.
Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, in a message, greeted members of the Hindu community on the occasion of the Saraswati Puja.
Saraswati Puja or Basant Panchami falls on the fifth "Tithi" of the Bangla month of Maagh each year when Hindus worship the goddess Saraswati.
Traditionally children are introduced to education and learning on the day of Saraswati Puja and this ritual is called "Hatekhori."
Toddlers are usually given a slate and chalk to scribble with on the auspicious day.
Major Hindu temples, schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions stage the festival with traditional gaiety and religious fervour.
The students in particular seek the blessings of the goddess Saraswati in their pursuit of knowledge, art, music and culture.
In most temples, houses and educational institutions, the puja will begin in the morning to be followed by the offering of "anjali."
Then the children will be imparted "hatekhori" (introduction to learning of children) and later prasad (foodstuff devoted to the goddess) will be distributed among devotees.
According to the Hindu faith, the goddess Saraswati represents power, creativity and inspiration and presents herself when the weather is pleasant and nature is in its full grandeur.
Depicted as a graceful woman with a crescent moon adorning her brow, she is shown riding a swan or a peacock or is seated on a lotus flower.
A grand Saraswati Puja will be arranged on the premises of Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University where a huge number of devotees and crowds will throng to perform the religious rituals and visit the pandals circled on the playground of the university's largest dormitory.
According to hall authorities, students from 72 departments are setting up 72 puja pandals this year.
As in previous years, the Fine Arts Faculty will create a massive Saraswati idol using cork-sheet, bamboo, and other materials, placed at the center of a pond on the hall premises, drawing the most devotees and visitors.
On the Dhaka University campus, the Puja is also organized at all-female dormitories.
Jagannath Hall administration is organizing the dormitory's central puja at the dormitory's Upashanalay (place of prayers) while employees of the hall has staged several pandals to worship Saraswati.
Apart from Dhaka, Saraswati puja will also be celebrated at temples, educational institutions and residences across the country.
