Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 13 (UNI) Vijayadasami marking the end of the annual nine-day long Navaratri festival is being celebrated across Kerala in which thousands of kids are initiated into the world of learning and writing on Sunday.
Children, along with their parents, thronged in large numbers at temples dedicated to goddess Saraswathi, the deity of learning, on this auspicious day.
Initiating children into the world of letters at a function in Raj Bhavan, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said “Heartiest greetings to Keralites the world over on Vijayadashmi. My best wishes to all children who are having their Vidyarambham — initiation into the world of alphabets and knowledge”.
Elaborate arrangements were made in various temples, cultural centres, schools and newspaper offices for the ‘Ezhuthiniruthu’ (initiation ceremony).
As part of initiation ceremony, the letters ‘Hari Sri Ganapataye Namah Avighnamastu’ are written on the tongue of the child and all the alphabets are written with a piece of gold.
The child is also made to write the same letters with its ring finger on raw rice in a bell metal vessel and the child is made to utter each word when it is written.
Panachikkad temple at Kottayam, Thunjan Parambu at Tirur in Malappuram, the birth place of father of Malayalam language Thunchath Ezhuthachan, Thunchan Smaraka Samithi at Iranikuttam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollur Mookambika temple in Karnataka were among the most popular locations where kids were initiated into the world of letters.
Navaratri Mandapam at Poojappura, Aattukal Devi Temple, Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Kariikakam Devi Temple, Alakkavu Devi Temple, Kodungallur Devi Temple, Chottanikkara Devi Temple, Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple, Malliyoor Ganapathi Temple, Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara-Siddhivinayaka Temple in Kasaragod, Sharkara Temple, Pandalam Navaratri Mandapam, Pazhavangadi Ganapathy have witnessed the heavy rush of devotees during the occasion.
Special pujas were performed at various places of worship as well as Navaratri ‘Mandapams,’ schools and cultural centres.
Navaratri, which literally means nine nights, falls in the months of September/October, every year. These nine days are marked by the worship of the nine forms of Goddess Shakthi/Devi. The festival is celebrated in different ways in various parts of India.
In Kerala the final three days of Navaratri – Ashtami, Navami, and Vijayadasami – are set apart for the worship of Goddess Saraswati – the goddess of wisdom and learning.
Books are placed in the pooja rooms (worship rooms) of houses and temples for worship on the Ashtami day. On Vijayadashami day, the books are taken out ceremoniously for reading after the worship of Goddess Saraswati.
In Kerala, this day is also considered auspicious for initiating the children into the world of letters which is called “Vidyarambham.” Ayudha Pooja (worship of implements) is also practiced in Kerala. On the Navami day the implements are worshipped along with the images of goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Opposition leader VD Satheesan, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, Bharatheeya Vichara Kendram Director R Sanjayan, ISRO Chairman S Somanath, cultural leaders and others have initiated hundreds of tiny tots into the world of letters today.
Many newspaper offices, including Mathrubhumi, Malayala Manorama, Kerala Kaumudi and Janmabhoomi also organised Vidyarambam functions.
The devotees believed that if he or she starts writing the first letter this day they could expect better education in their life.
