Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Thousands of tots enter world of letters in Kerala


Thousands of children in Kerala today performed the 'Vidyarambham' ritual, marking their formal entry into the world of alphabets on the occasion of 'Vijayadasami' at the end of the Navaratri festival.

Children in the 3-5 age group turned up with their parents in temples and cultural centres to make their first step towards literacy.Writers, teachers, scientists and artists helped the children to scribble their first letter on rice-filled platters after invoking Saraswathi, the Goddess of art and learning.

In cultural centres like Thunchan Smarakam in Tirur in Malappuram, the home memorial of medieval poet Thunchath Ezhuthachan, revered as father of Malayalam literature, children wrote their initial letters on sand.

"This is a great and unique festival of learning. The ceremony opens up the universe of knowledge before children," said writer Alamkode Leelakrishnan.

Leading newspapers, academies and libraries also made arrangements for the ritual.

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