VIJAYAWADA: Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanams (SDMSD) organized a mass ‘Aksharabhyasam’ ritual atop Indrakeeladri, marking the start of the academic year on Friday. As many as 400 children took part in the ritual, and parents offered prayers to Goddess Kanaka Durga. “For the past decade, temple authorities have been successfully organizing the ritual in an attempt to protect our tradition. A child’s first step towards education is important, so the parents want it to take place in an auspicious way,” temple trust board chairman Y Gouranga Babu said.
The head priests decorated the goddess’ idol in the avatar of Saraswathi Devi (goddess of education), and conducted mass Aksharabhyasam from 10:45 am on the sixth floor of the seven-storeyed Mallikharjuna Mahamandapam. As a part of the ceremony, the parents were given a free bag, a slate, a pocket-size photo of Kanaka Durga Devi, and vermilion. Gouranga Babu said that even though most devotees had registered their slots online, those who were not registered were also able to perform the ritual.