Vijayadashami is a significant festival throughout the length and breadth of the country since time immemorial. There are several references in our epics to the importance of the day. However, in Kerala, on top of all, there is an additional significance. Vijayadashami is Vidyarambham for Keralites, the day for initiating children to the realm of alphabets. Children are taken for this ceremony between the age of two and three. The age condition is to make sure that the children should be introduced to the alphabets in front of Vidyadevata before they are taken to the KG classes.
The ritual of Vidyarambham is the same in all places. Picture of Vidyadevata Saraswati Ma, is placed with floral decoration. After the Saraswati Pooja, little children are seated on the lap of the acharya, a scholar, before Saraswati picture. Then he makes the child to write in the rice spread on a plate. He holds the index finger of the child and guide it to write “Hari Sree Ganapathaye Nama:”. Then the acharya writes the same on the tongue of the child with a golden ornament like ring.
Formerly, Vidyarambham was organised in the houses. But, since the last several years, temples dedicated to Devi, especially Saraswati, are the venues. The ritual is carried out in thousands of small and big temples in the state. And, big publishing houses like offices of the media are additional venues these days. Famous writers, authors, singers and other artists do play the role of acharyas. Political leaders also perform Vidyarambham for the children. Even adults undergo Vidyarambahm when they start the first lessons of music, dance and musical instruments. The ritual will be over before noon.
Few years before, Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister and CPM supremo, performed Vidyarambham, at his official residence, for his driver’s grandchild. Today there are reports of VD Satheesan, Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader, performing Vidyaramabham at his residence. CM leader and former chief minister late EMS Nambootirippad also had done the same at his residence.
Temples are overcrowded today throughout the state as thousands of children are brought by their parents for Vidyarambham. Sree Saraswati temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Dakshina Mookambika temple in Parur (Ernakulam district), Thiruvallakkavu Sastha temple in Thrissur, Attukal Devi temple in Thiruvananthapuram and Tirur Thunjanprambu in Malappuram district, etc. are the most sought-after venues. Thunjanparambu is the birth place of Thunjath Ezhuthachan, father of Malayalam language.
Kolloor Mookambika temple, Karnataka is most famous for Vidyrambham. People from all over the country bring their children there.
Sangh-inspired “Kesari” Malayalam weekly has been organising Vidyarambham in Kesari Bhavan, Kozhikode. C. Sadanandan Master MP (Rajya Sabha) and former Goa Governor Adv. P.S. Sreedharan Pillai were the acharyas there today.
“Pusthaka Pooja” is a related ritual. Children, and even adults, place their books in own pooja rooms or in temples for pooja. Books are offered for Pushthaka Pooja on Durgashtami Day. They will be taken back after the pooja on Vijayadashami Day. Children do not learn their lessons while books are offered for Pusthaka Pooja. It is called ‘Poojaveyuppu” in Malayalam.
Now, Vidyarambham is no more a Hindu only festival. Parents cutting across religious lines are keen to take their children for Vidyarambham these days.
People in the industrial sector, whether large scale or small scale, place their tools for Pooja from Durgashtami to Vijayadashami. It is in practice cutting across religious lines.
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