Sharda Pujan
Sharda pujan is performed on the third day of Diwali and it is also the
last day of Hindu year. On this day devotees light diyas and decorate the
house with brightly colored lights. To ensure success, traders worship their
new account books; non-traders also do pujan of their saving books. The
businessmen balanced their previous years accounts. This pujan is known as
Sharda poojan and is generally performed by the eldest member of the family.
Hindus, especially students offer pujan to books during Sharda pujan as
Sharda is the other name of Ma Saraswati, the goddess of learning. Goddess
Sharda is symbolic of conquest over one's self.
A Rangoli, an intricate artistic design using bright colored powders, is
created at the entrance of homes. This is to welcome people who visit or
come to home. Various sweets are offered to the Lord and served as Prashad.
During Sharda Pujan, vedic rituals are also held to welcome the Hindu new
year. Since it is the last day of the year people resolve all personal
conflicts forgiving and forgetting misdeeds of the past year and start the
New Year afresh. After Sharda pujan, firecrackers and fireworks are lit at
night.
