Hathe khodi, bhog & Netaji to ignite yellow riot at Saraswati Puja today

Bhopal: The city will erupt in sunshine hues at Saraswati Puja today as celebration of wisdom, music, learning and the first breath of spring takes centre stage. Also known as Basant Panchami, the festival turns streets, courtyards and mandaps into a weave of yellow marigolds, turmeric-tinged sweets and the joyful promise of fresh beginnings. Today, yellow isn't just a colour — it's a mood, mantra of hope, prosperity and blossoming creativity.The city's Bengali community is leading the festivities with a bhog for 1000 revellers. "We have events from 10 am, with anjuli at 11 am followed by hather khodi — a cherished ritual where toddlers trace blessings with the palm, accompanied by maer gaan," says the general secretary of Bengali Association, TT Nagar. This year's puja also carries special resonance — it falls on Subhash Chandra Bose's 130th birth anniversary. "In his spirit," he says with pride, "we're hosting a blood donation camp, echoing Bose Babu's immortal call — ‘Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azadi doonga'."At BHEL Kalibari, Dilip Halder shares that skilled artisans have sculpted the deity, and his team is poised to serve phol prasad, khichuri, gheton and payesh to more than 700 devotees along with health camps "so that Maa's blessings multiply for all." Over at Kali Bari Kolar, founder Niloy Das says rich cultural lineup — of bhajans, traditional geet and delicious bhog for 600 — is a joyful bridge bringing communities together. President of Arera Bangiya Parishad, Shubhashish Banerjee is ensuring puja and bhog for 200 devotees at 10 number market.