Kathmandu, January 23:

Saraswoti Puja, also known as the Basant Panchami, was celebrated throughout the nation by organising various programmes today. King Gyanendra visited Hanuman Dhoka Durbar today at 9:45 am for Basanta Shravan (chant welcoming the spring) as part of the festival to welcome the new season.

Satya Mohan Joshi, a cultural expert, said: “The festival is celebrated according to the lunar calendar marking Panchami.” He said the day is believed to be so auspicious that any sort of ritual performed on the day is thought to bring out positive results.

From dawn, people gathered at the temples of goddess Saraswoti in the Valley. Swyambhu, Maitidevi, Nil Saraswoti and other temples of the goddess were filled with people. Small children are taught to learn their first alphabet on the occasion.

Shyam Kapali was with his 18-month-old son Sameer at Maitidevi Temple to start his formal education today. He said: “I am here with my son as people say children will become intelligent in their academic life if their education starts from the day of Saraswoti Puja.”

Schools, colleges educational and music institutions celebrated the day by performing puja of the goddess, books, musical instruments and teachers.

Some schools even admitted students without taking any admission fee from them on the occasion. Little Flower Boarding School, Maitidevi, admitted students free of cost today. At Basantapur, marking the auspicious day Ihee was organised at Nava Durga Mandir. About 26 girls from

Newar community were married to Bel (a kind of fruit believed to be a part of Lord Shiva).

Meanwhile, Kamal Krishna Joshi, chairman of the University Grant Commission (UGC), today pressed on the need for a competitive study environment in educational institutions. “At a time when the world is developing as a global village, the education sector in Nepal should provide competitive environment for the students,” Joshi said. He was speaking at a programme organised to mark Saraswoti puja at the Xavier International School. Joshi said that the problem prevailing in the education sector must be solved without any delay. At the programme, about 45 children started their preliminary writing practice where they were allowed to scribble or write anything they liked.