Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Dr. Shankar Bhattacharya, who presided over as the Priest for
the Sarasawati Puja and his daughter, Shalini Bhattacharya, who is a 3rd year Medical student at the Springfield Campus of SIU. During a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Three of the participants at the Puja: On the left Dr. Kiran Kumar
Topudurti, President of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society of Central Illinois; in the middle Dr. Nani Bhowmik, President of the Central Illinois Bengali Association, the group mainly responsible for organizing the Puja; and on the right Professor Avijit Ghosh, Special Assistant to the President of the University of Illinois. During a of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Anurita Kohli is offered flowers by her daughter Manvika Kohli during a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Gifts brought for the goddess during a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Members of the community listen to the chants during a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Shlok Chondhary, 3, holds tight to his father Sanjay Chondhary during a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

During a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Tuseeta Banerjee, Bulalita Chaki, and Swarnals Sanyal dress in beautiful clothing during a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Dressed in holiday clothing, 9 year-old Pov Ravi Banjeree checks her iPad during a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Colorful and exotic colors are part of Bengali dress during a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

A young child pauses in the doorway light during a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Koeli Goel, one of the organizers of the Puja checks on small children during a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Koeli Goel, one of the organizers of the Puja is offering flowers to Goddess Saraswati during the Puja.During a of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Several Members of the community are blowing 'Conch" and playing an instrument similar to 'Cymbal" during the puja. During a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.

Photographer: Darrell Hoemann

Dr. Shankar Bhattacharya, who presided over as the Priest for
the Sarasawati Puja and his daughter, Shalini Bhattacharya, who is a 3rd year Medical student at the Springfield Campus of SIU, are blowing the "Conch" during the puja. Conch blowing is done is all auspicious occasions in India. During a celebration of Saraswati Puja by the Bengali community at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.