Bongosathi will host Saraswati Puja 2026 on 24 January at the Seabrook Community Centre, bringing together prayer, learning and a strong focus on children’s education through a community-led celebration in Melbourne’s west.
The day-long event, running from 10 am to 3 pm at the centre on Truganina Avenue, will mark the annual observance dedicated to Maa Saraswati, revered as the goddess of knowledge, music and learning. Entry to the event is free, with families encouraged to attend together.
A key feature of the programme is Hate Khori, the traditional first-writing ceremony, where young children are invited to take part in a symbolic introduction to learning and receive blessings. Organisers are encouraging parents to bring their little ones for the ceremony, which has long been a cornerstone of Saraswati Puja celebrations across Bengali communities.
Alongside the religious observance, Bongosathi will also host its Science Exhibition 2026, opening participation to students, youth and curious minds across age groups. The exhibition invites participants to showcase projects that highlight learning, creativity and problem-solving, ranging from working models and experiments to posters, robotics demos and short research reports.
Themes for the exhibition include everyday science and simple machines, environment and climate solutions, health and life sciences, coding, robotics, electronics and physics, as well as an open category for original ideas. Participants are grouped by age, from children aged five to eight through to an open category for those aged sixteen and above.
The exhibition will open at 10 am following morning setup and safety checks, with judging and audience choice voting scheduled around midday. Awards and certificates will be presented on stage in the afternoon, recognising projects across junior, senior and open categories, with certificates provided to all participants.
Bongosathi has positioned the event as a blend of faith, culture and learning, reflecting the central place education holds within the Saraswati Puja tradition. By combining worship with a platform for young people to explore science and ideas, the organisers aim to create a welcoming space that speaks to both heritage and curiosity.
Registrations for both the puja and the science exhibition are open, with further details available through Bongosathi’s official channels.
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