Some children were cheerful, while others took teary first steps into the world of learning at functions organised across the city to mark Vidyarambham on Saturday.
Vidyarambham is held on Vijayadashami day, which brings the curtain down on the nine-day Navarathri festival.
Thousands of children took part in the Vidyarambham ritual organised by cultural, religious, and charitable organisations. Children were also initiated into various arts on the day.
In homes, a parent or grandparent held children’s hands to write their first letters with their index finger on a platter full of rice grains. In public functions, writers, poets, artistes, and scholars guided the children.
Vidyarambham ceremonies organised by temples saw a good turnout from morning. Media organisations too organised the rituals.
At Kowdiar House, Administrative Reforms Commission chairperson V.S. Achuthanandan initiated 12 children from the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare at Thycaud into the world of learning. One of them was three-year-old Pooja, who reached the council nine months ago, apparently after being separated from her family during a train journey. She was spotted at the Thiruvananthapuram Central station by RPF personnel and taken to the council.
The other children from the council included twins Allan and Amal, Aakash who is housed there following a plea from his father who is a single parent, Nila, Agnivesh, Anagha, Akhil, Bharat, Bhagyashree, and Samuel who cannot be given up for adoption for various reasons, and Divyendu who is set to fly to Italy in a month following the completion of his adoption procedure.
At the Thunchan Smaraka Samithi at Ayranimuttam, children irrespective of their religion were guided into learning. Sand for the Vidyarambham was brought from Tirur. Children were initiated into arts such as dancing, music, and painting too in keeping with the concept of ‘Sampoorna’ (total) Vidyarambham. Playback singer K.J. Yesudas guided children into music at the Tharangini School of Music at Edappazhinji here.
Vidyarambham was held in churches too. At the Madre de Deus Church, Vettucaud, 12 priests led the rituals. At Kurisumala the rituals were led by Kurisumala vicar Fr. Sajan Antony. Forty-five children were initiated into learning here.