Remarks by Ambassador Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari at Saraswati Puja Celebration
Organized by Officers Club Dhaka
14 February 2024
Chairman of Officers’ Club Dhaka and Cabinet Secretary Mr. Md. Mahbub Hossain
Chief Guest, Minister for LGRD, Hon. Mr. Tazul Islam
Hon. Ministers
Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Chairperson of Puja Organizing Committee
Members of Officers’ Club Dhaka, and
Ladies and Gentlemen
Namaste, As-salamu Alaykum, Shuvo Sokal and Good Morning!
I feel so pleased to participate in this auspicious programme, organized to observe Saraswati Puja.
My sincere gratitude to the Chairman Mr. Md. Mahbub Hossain and his entire team of the Officers’ Club for this opportunity.
At the outset, I would like to convey my warmest greetings and best wishes to you and to all those who observe Saraswati Puja for peace, happiness, and prosperity.
Dear Friends
Among numerous festivals celebrated by peoples both in Nepal and Bangladesh, Saraswati Puja is one such festival that reflects the close religious and cultural ties between our two countries.
Like in Bangladesh, this festival is celebrated with much joy and enthusiasm, especially in schools, colleges, and academic institutions all across Nepal. On this auspicious day, devotees pay respect and worship Goddess Saraswati who is revered as the deity of knowledge, learning, art, and music.
Goddess Saraswati represents creativity, power, and inspiration and she presents herself with these attributes when nature is in full grandeur. That is why this festival is also called Basanta Panchami, both in Nepal and Bangladesh.
It marks the beginning of spring season, which is a harbinger of life, hope, and optimism. The festival also holds profound spiritual significance as it symbolizes the end of ignorance and the beginning of knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment.
It is an occasion to pray, meditate, and seek the blessings of Goddess Saraswati.
It is considered auspicious for beginning new learning endeavours and skills. During Saraswati Puja, young children are often encouraged to begin writing alphabets. According to a popular belief, if children write in the presence of the Goddess Saraswati, they will receive her blessings and excel in their life.
Dear Friends
I take this opportunity to acknowledge that the people of Bangladesh celebrate festivals irrespective of their religion, faith, or belief systems.
This is a true characteristic of religious tolerance and cultural harmony. This, I believe, is also a strong foundation for a tolerant, inclusive, and prosperous society.
Once again, I would like to thank the Officers’ Club Dhaka for this opportunity.
May the divine blessings of Goddess Saraswati grace us all and may she shower upon us the wealth of skills, intellect, and wisdom.
……………..
সম্মানিত অতিথিবৃন্দ ও প্রিয় সুধীমন্ডলী,
ভাষা, সংস্কৃতি, ঐতিহ্য ও উৎসবের দিক থেকে নেপাল ও বাংলাদেশের মধ্যে অনেক মিল রয়েছে। স্বরস্বতী পূজা এমন একটা উৎসব যা নেপাল ও বাংলাদেশ তথা উভয় দেশে সমান আনন্দ এবং উদ্দিপনার সাথে উদযাপিত হয়। দেবী স্বরস্বতী সৃজনশীলতা, শক্তি এবং অনুপ্রেরণার প্রতিনিধিত্ব করেন। প্রকৃতি যখন পূর্ণ মহিমায় থাকে তখন উনি নিজেকে এই রুপে উপস্থাপন করে।
এই শুভক্ষণ উপলক্ষ্যে আমি আপনাদের সবাইকে শান্তি, সমৃদ্ধি এবং সুখের জন্য আমার আন্তরিক শুভেচ্ছা এবং শুভকামনা জানাচ্ছি।
আপনাদের সবাইকে অনেক অনেক ধন্যবাদ।
