Vidyarambham
Vidyarambham is an important Hindu tradition that is observed on the ‘Vijayadashami’ day during the Malayalam month of ‘Kanni’. This ceremony is also known as ‘Ezhuthiniruthu’ in the southern states of India like Karnataka and Kerala. In this ritual young children aged between 3-5 years are introduced to the world of knowledge, music, dance and some forms of folk arts. The observance of Vidyarambham marks the final and tenth day of the Navratri celebrations and is considered to be an auspicious day for initiating the learning process, especially in young children. This ceremony is performed in temples and even few households. The process of initiation and learning is closely linked to the ‘Ayudha Puja’ ritual. According to the beliefs, it is on the day of Vidyarambham that Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge and wisdom, and Gurus or teachers should be presented with ‘Gurudakshina’ as a token for Thanksgiving. Vidy...