Image of Goddess Saraswati. courtesy of mantraonnet

DENPASAR (indo.com): The very last day of the Pawukon calendar (Saturday of the 30th week) is devoted to Sang Hyang Aji Saraswati, the goddess of all knowledge and arts. This year she descends to Earth on February 9, 2002, when the Balinese will make offerings to books, especially the sacred lontar palm leaf books. Celebrations are held in family compounds, temples, and academic institutions all over the island.

All books are the subject of devotion on this day, and one is not supposed to read when the celebrations are going on. Schools have special ceremonies, and students squash into the spacious Jagatnatha temple in downtown Denpasar for a special early morning ceremony in which they pray for success in their studies.

Saraswati is a holiday on Bali and the grind of daily life is suspended for the celebrations. The day before Saraswati sees the practice of "Mekekawin" - the reading of ancient Balinese letters written on lontar leaves. This is carried out by schoolchildren.

Saraswati is the name of a beautiful goddess as the manifestation of Brahma (the creator) in Hindu mythology. She is usually represented as the beautiful woman standing on a lotus leaf, accompanied by a swan and peacock. She holds a Wina (a kind of guitar), a Genitri (small holy chain), and a keropak (holy book).

The Genitri symbolizes that science and the pursuit of knowledge is an eternal process. The Keropak symbolizes books as the vessels in which knowledge is stored. The Wina symbolizes that science is a masterpiece of art and culture.

The Lotus represents holiness, and the peacock is the symbol of the charisma of those who possess knowledge. The goose symbolizes the wisdom of choosing good over evil as a way of creating harmony in the world.