Kozhikode: Marking the end of Navratri festival, the auspicious day of ‘Vijayadashami’ is being celebrated in Kerala on Tuesday. Thousands of little children will be initiated into the world of letters on the day in various parts of the state.
According to belief, the children will be first introduced to the alphabets on ‘Vijayadashami’ through the ritual ‘Vidyarambham’ (start of education). The first letters are written on their tongue with a gold ring and then they are made to write the letters on sand spread on the floor.
Kollur Mookambika Temple is one of the major destination of devotees on the auspicious day. Thousands of children and families arrive here for the ritual. In Kerala, many temples and other cultural centres have arranged grand ceremonies for ‘Vidyarambham’.
Thunchan Parambu in Tirur, which is known as the birth place of the Father of Malayalam literature Thunchath Ezhuthachan, is crowded with children who are eager to take their first step to the world of letters. Writers, celebrities, political leaders and other eminent personalities are taking part in the ceremony at various locations.
The Vidyarambham ceremony begins early morning. A special platform for the ritual is set up near the Saraswathi shrine in Dakshina Mookambika Temple at Panachikkad in Kottayam. Chottanikkara temple in Ernakulam and Paravoor Dakshina Mookambika temple also witnesses the ceremony.
As assembly bypolls are nearing, the candidates too are taking part in the Vidyarambham ceremony. In Vattiyoorkavu, UDF candidate K. Mohan Kumar will attend the first letter writing ritual at Saraswathi temple, LDF candidate V. K. Prashanth in Vattiyoorkavu library and BJP candidate S. Suresh in Edapazhanji temple.
