Even as Vijayadashami is celebrated in various ways across the country, in Kerala it marks the auspicious day for initiating children into the world of letters.
Prominent people and temple priests initiated thousands of children to the world of knowledge during ‘Vidyarambam’ ceremony across the city on Wednesday. By writing ‘Harisree Ganapathaye Namaha’ on the tongues of tiny tots and guiding their fingers to create letters on rice and sand, children were exposed to the basics of Malayalam and education in general. The ritual was practised in a few churches as well.
Sounds of laughter and tears filled the air as the young toddlers scribbled ‘Harisree’ on rice and sand. In Dakshina Mookambika temple, North Paravur, thousands of children from across the state went through the ritual. Priests, teachers and prominent people wrote ‘Harisree’ with golden rings on their tongues.
Paavakulam Sree Mahadeva Temple in Kaloor started Viajayadashmi celebrations with Saraswati Pooja at 8 a.m. which was followed by distribution of the books kept for puja. Ezhikodu Krishnadas Namboothiri led the ceremony with around 100 children taking part.
‘Sangeethaarchana’ by Sree Sankara Music School of the temple, and ‘Narayaneeyam’ classes by Rajalakshmi Raja were also held. ‘Annadaanam’ was offered to all devotees.
Sri Kumareswara Temple, near KSRTC bus stand conducted ‘Vidya Gopala Manthrarchana’ for students which was followed by the distribution of Saaraswagritham’, a ‘prasadam’. Around 75 kids attended Vidyarambam at Paramara Devi Temple too.
Vijayadashami is also a day when children are initiated into the world of music and dance. Parents thronged music, drama and cultural centres to initiate their wards in the arts too.
It is a also a day when learning materials and tools offered for puja in temples, homes and firms for the past two days to seek the blessings of goddess Sarawati and Lakshmi are taken out. It is believed to be the worship of Shakti in the form of Divine Mother to remind one of the teaching - ‘Maathru Devo Bhava’.
The 3-day long Navarathri celebrations at Amritanandamayi Math ended on Wednesday.
At the event, general secretary of the Amritanandamayi Math, Swami Poornanandamayi said the message of the Vijayadashami day is that surrendering all our talents and skills before god is the real beginning of learning.
