Tiny tots take first steps into world of letters, heavy rush in temples and cultural centres

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: People in Kerala celebrated Vijayadasami Wednesday with thousands of tiny tots initiated into the world of letters marking the culmination of the annual Navratri festival. Children and their parents gathered in huge numbers in temples, schools and cultural centres across the state where arrangements had been made for the ezhuthiniruthu, the initiation ceremony.

The children were made to write on rice grains, by the priest or an elderly person. The initiation ceremony started in temples and other places early morning at 4 am. Bigwigs from social field and prominent figures in the society make children write their first letters of learning on the occasion. The main centre is Poojappura Saraswathy Mandapam in the capital city. Thousands are thronging the place.

The initiation ceremonies were conducted in a simple manner in the last two years due to Covid restrictions. This time, the ceremonies have been arranged in an elaborate manner in all the centres without any Covid restrictions.

The ceremony is in progress at the Thiruvananthapuram office of Kerala Kaumudi. Social and cultural leaders are initiating children into the ceremony. The function is held at Pettah SNDP Hall. Poet and lyricist Prabha Varma, neurosurgeon and chairman of Ananthapuri Hospitals Dr A Marthanda Pilla, additional DGP K Padma Kumar, former DGP A Hemachandran, Renowned neurologist Dr Shaji Prabhakaran, writer K Gomathi Ammal, senior IAS officer and writer Dr B Ashok and others are initiating the children into the world of letters.