Mother Saraswati is dressed in white garments which gives us the impression of pureness. A teacher is considered a devotee of Saraswati Maa and therefore he/she should be pure in his mind, words and actions. Maa holds a book on her left hand, meaning knowledge, and a rosary (mala) on her right hand which denotes bhakti. A teacher should be pure so that his/her students learn accordingly.
Saraswati Poojan (also known as Navratri Poojan in some regions) is performed on the first day of the new Hindu year (Aso Vad 1 – the first day after Diwali in the Swaminarayan calendar). It is a time to seek the blessings of Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, wisdom, arts, and learning.
On this day, students and scholars place their books, musical instruments, and tools of their trade before Goddess Saraswati for her blessing. The act symbolises offering one’s knowledge and skills at the feet of the divine and seeking guidance for their proper use.
In Swaminarayan Mandirs, this day is observed with puja of the scriptures – particularly the Vachanamrut and Shikshapatri – as these represent the highest knowledge imparted by Lord Swaminarayan himself.