Thousands of Children Begin Learning at Thrissur Temple on Vijayadashami

Around 8,000 children were initiated into learning at the Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Cherpu, Thrissur, on Vijayadashami. The ceremony began at 4 a.m. and was led by roughly 50 acharyas, with Sreedhara Wariar of Thiruvullakkavu Variam heading the priests. Each child had a gold ring used to trace the sacred words “Harishree Ganapathaye Namah” on the tongue, then guided a fingertip across a plate of rice to write their first letters. Parents and relatives travelled from across Thrissur district and other parts of Kerala to take part, though the turnout was a little lower than the previous year. Token‑based entry was used to manage the long queues, and about 150 police officers were on duty to keep order. Separate counters handled offerings, helping devotees move smoothly through the temple grounds. The temple is a historic centre for Vidyarambham, a tradition that sees families bring children to begin formal education on the auspicious Vijayadashami day. Similar ceremonies were held at several other temples in the district, reflecting the continued popularity of the rite.

Context

Vidyarambham marks the first day of formal schooling for many Kerala children, and the early morning ritual is believed to bless the child’s future learning.