GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th Jan. Gouri Tritya, locally known as Gaur Trai is the divine Birthday of the Goddess Saraswati, one of the aspects of the Supreme Mother Goddess, which is celebrated on the third day of Magh Shukla Paksh.
The Goddess Saraswati is the Presiding Deity of speech, learning, all kinds of knowledge, 64 kinds of arts, crafts, Sciences, Sanskrit language in Devanagari letters.
Saraswati known by the alternative names of Bharati, Brahmi, Vageshwari or Vak Devi is the Shakti or Consort of Lord Brahma, the divine Creator.
SHE is celebrated both as a Deity and as a river symbolizing both fertility and purifying powers. Having white complexion, SHE is depicted in having spotless white attire or a yellow drape holding Veena, book, a rosary and a noose or a trident in HER four hands.
White swan or a peacock are HER divine mounts. SHE is also the Presiding Deity of all the Hindu Shastras.
The day prior to Gauri Tritya is known as Rang Doi, which is the day dedicated to the indigenously prepared colours used in the making of hand made Gori Trai.
Only a few decades back it was made by hand by having impressions of elephants, grass, trees, swan peacock and an image of Saraswati with an accompanying Shaloka in Her praise on a white sheet of paper.
The Kul Brahman would bring it in the morning to each and every household. Taher (turmeric added rice) is prepared in the morning and pooja is offered to it. Instead of the image, the blessings of the Goddess Saraswati are invoked by applying tilak of sandal paste or turmeric to the religious books and books of children and musical instruments.
White coloured flowers are also offered to them.
Small children are also initiated to the symbolic learning of alphabets on the morning of Gouri Tritya.
