In a bid to celebrate the National Saraswati Mahotsav-2017 in a befitting manner from January 28 to February 1 in the State, Haryana Government has announced cash prizes of upto Rs 21,000 to hold various competitions in educational institutions.
The State Government has decided to hold competitions and other events in all Government and Government-aided colleges of the State, said Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma.
He said that these competitions included painting competition on the theme of Saraswati as a goddess, as a knowledge, as technology and as Sarasvati river. Also, there would be competitions of poetry on Saraswati and essay writing on various aspects like Saraswati heritage, scientific and archaeological, geological and ideological aspects, he said.
The participating students would be able to write in Hindi, English or any other language in these competitions and they may also take help of any kind of book or literature available in the college, market or websites. Apart from this, the participants can also refer the website of Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) at www.hshdb.in for various materials, he added.
The Education Minister said that cash prizes of upto Rs 21,000 would be awarded to the students for the best entries as decided by a panel constituted by the HSHDB.
The Principals of all Government and Government-aided colleges have been asked to organize the competitions at college level and send the names of selected candidates who attain first position. The entries should reach Director, Higher Education, Haryana, Shiksha Sadan, Panchkula before January 15, he added.
Haryana Government is celebrating the Saraswati Mahotsav in 10 districts from January 28 to February 1. During the celebrations, a chetna yatra would also be started from Sirsa district on January 28 which would pass through the flow path of Saraswati river in districts of Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Panchkula and Yamunanagar. The chetna yatra would be concluded in Yamunanagar on February 1.
Apart from this, two-day international seminar on Saraswati River would be organized on January 28 and 29. During this seminar, scientists from about 20 countries are proposed to be invited. Also, scientists of renowned research institutes and universities of the state would take part in the celebrations.
The BJP led Haryana Government had in 2015 decided to restore Saraswati creek from Adi Badri to Mustafabad in Yamunanagar district and set up Adi Badri Heritage Board.
The Saraswati river, considered sacred in Hindu religion, finds mention in ancient Hindu scriptures like the Rig Veda, Mahabharata, Ramayana and others, giving credence to the belief that it existed during those times.