Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday highlighted the significance of Vidyarambham, a beloved tradition in Kerala. Tharoor stated, "learning is the culmination of Puja. We teach young children their first letters of the alphabet, initiating them into the world of letters." He also noted, "For us, Navratri is mainly about Goddess Saraswati; while Durga and Lakshmi hold the same importance, here Saraswati takes precedence."

Tharoor attended the Vidyarambham celebrations at the Sree Saraswathi Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, where he was seen guiding young children to write their first letters.

He described how parents often bring their children to temples for this occasion, where the children typically sit on their laps or stand beside them as they write on a rice platter. "We write 'Om Hari Shri' as part of the ritual," he added. Tharoor mentioned that he teaches the children to write in three languages: Sanskrit, Malayalam, and English.

Vidyarambham marks a significant milestone in a child's educational journey. During this ritual, a golden ring is used to write divine words on the child's tongue, symbolising the initiation into knowledge.

As the festivities continue, temples, especially those dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning and art, witness a heavy influx of devotees.