California museum to celebrate Saraswati Puja

California, Feb 14 (Calcutta Tube / IBNS) County run Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens in California is reportedly celebrating Hindu festival of Basant Panchami on February 19.

Five hour celebrations at this Cherry Valley (Riverside county) located Museum will reportedly include worship of Saraswati; revered Hindu goddess of knowledge/learning, music, art, language/speech, and poetry; besides a kite festival, classical singing, music, dances, mushaira (Urdu poetry reading) and kite making workshop. Participants are reportedly encouraged to wear yellow shirts.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Tuesday, described it as “a step in the right direction”.

 Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, commended the Museum for providing opportunity to the area residents to explore Hindu festivals and concepts through Basant Panchami celebration.

Basant Pachami, which actually fell on January 28 this year, celebrates goddess Saraswati. Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents.

This Museum, opened in 1957, which includes a 16-acre campus and features late 16th to early 19th century European and Asian Fine Arts, is a department of Riverside County Economic Development Agency.

John F. Tavaglione is Chairman of Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Cherry Valley is at the highest point on the San Gorgonio Pass between San Bernardino and Palm Springs.