In Hindu mythology, Saraswati is the goddess of learning, music, speech, and the arts.
Saraswati is commonly shown wearing white garments and holding a veena, a stringed musical instrument. Other traditional attributes include sacred texts, prayer beads, and a lotus. Her imagery connects knowledge with clarity, discipline, creativity, and refined expression.
She is especially honored during Vasant Panchami, a festival associated with spring and learning. In many regions, students and artists place books, instruments, or writing tools before her image as part of worship.
Saraswati is also the name of a sacred river in Vedic literature. The river and goddess are related in religious tradition, although later Hindu iconography focuses particularly on wisdom and the arts. Saraswati is sometimes mistaken for Lakshmi, who is associated primarily with prosperity and good fortune.