KATHMANDU: Shree Panchami, which is also known as Saraswati Puja—the worship of the goddess of knowledge— was observed today amid much fanfare across the nation.

Hindus annually celebrate the festival, which falls on the lunar calendar, on the fifth day of the full moon, in the month of Magh. On the auspicious day today, devotees thronged the Saraswatisthan of Swayambu, Nil Saraswati of Lazimpat in Kathmandu, and Saraswati Kunda of Lele, Lalitpur to perform Saraswati puja. Schools and educational institutions were full of activities to celebrate the day.

It is believed that on this auspicious day the goddess endows wisdom and learning, wit and power of speech on the human being. The day is also auspicious for wedding or beginning a new enterprise. And for children and toddlers, who are about to start school, it marks an auspicious day for learning first letters of the alphabet.

Meanwhile, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Nembang and other high-ranking government officials observed Vasanta Shrawan at Hanuman Dhoka in Kathmandu. The four hands of Saraswati embody four aspects of human personality: mind, intellect, alertness and ego.