om swastiastu and selamat pagi every one
(may god belss u and good morning)
I would just like to share some information i know on Sarawati on of the important celebration to the Balinese hope you enjoy
Take the day off from work or learning, no books must be opened!
The Saraswati festival is celebrated in honour of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. Saraswati is a beautiful woman with four hands, riding on a white swan. It it is said that that knowledge is like a beautiful woman, chased by all men for all of their lives and that with knowledge man can distinguish between good and evil.
Saraswati is one of the most revered and popular Goddesses in Bali. Her gigantic statue can be found in every school, college and university all over Bali. In her four hands, Saraswati holds a palm leaf manuscript called a lontar (representing the source of knowledge), a genitri (a chain with 108 pieces, symbolising that knowledge has no ending), a wina musical instrument (symbolising that science is as beautiful as the sound of wina), and a lotus flower which is a symbol of holiness. She rides white swans (prudence) among lotus flowers (water lilies are a holy symbol in Bali).
Families collect all their books, clean them off and dust them down, then place them in the family or school temples. Every place of learning and office is decorated lavishly, with shrines to the Goddess placed in the northeast corner of the building. Ornate offerings of food are taken in solemn procession to the piles of books in the temples and students and office workers get the day off as nobody is supposed to use books on Saraswati!
When is Saraswati?
In Bali Saraswati occurs every 210 days according to the Balinese Pawukon (cycles) calendar. In 2011 it falls on April 23rd and then again on November 19th. The celebration of Saraswati is during the morning only. No celebration is held after noon as it is believed that the goddess returns to heaven then.
(may god belss u and good morning)
I would just like to share some information i know on Sarawati on of the important celebration to the Balinese hope you enjoy
Take the day off from work or learning, no books must be opened!
The Saraswati festival is celebrated in honour of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. Saraswati is a beautiful woman with four hands, riding on a white swan. It it is said that that knowledge is like a beautiful woman, chased by all men for all of their lives and that with knowledge man can distinguish between good and evil.
Saraswati is one of the most revered and popular Goddesses in Bali. Her gigantic statue can be found in every school, college and university all over Bali. In her four hands, Saraswati holds a palm leaf manuscript called a lontar (representing the source of knowledge), a genitri (a chain with 108 pieces, symbolising that knowledge has no ending), a wina musical instrument (symbolising that science is as beautiful as the sound of wina), and a lotus flower which is a symbol of holiness. She rides white swans (prudence) among lotus flowers (water lilies are a holy symbol in Bali).
Families collect all their books, clean them off and dust them down, then place them in the family or school temples. Every place of learning and office is decorated lavishly, with shrines to the Goddess placed in the northeast corner of the building. Ornate offerings of food are taken in solemn procession to the piles of books in the temples and students and office workers get the day off as nobody is supposed to use books on Saraswati!
When is Saraswati?
In Bali Saraswati occurs every 210 days according to the Balinese Pawukon (cycles) calendar. In 2011 it falls on April 23rd and then again on November 19th. The celebration of Saraswati is during the morning only. No celebration is held after noon as it is believed that the goddess returns to heaven then.