Vijayadashami held amid prayers for a new beginning

Hundreds of children including toddlers were initiated into the world of letters at the Vidyarambhom ceremony.

The annual Vijayadashami festival, marking the triumph of good over evil, was celebrated with religious fervour in different parts of the district on Friday.

Hundreds of children including toddlers were initiated into the world of letters at the Vidyarambhom ceremony held as part of the celebrations at various temples, cultural centres, schools, and at certain churches in the district in the forenoon.

Akeeramon Kalidasa Bhattathiri, Kerala Yogakshema Sabha president, led the Vidyarambhom ceremony at the Moorthitta Maha Ganapathi Temple at Aranmula.

Philipose Mar Chrysostum, 97-year-old Metropolitan Emeritus of the Mar Thoma Church, led the Vidyarambhom ceremony at the Mar Thoma Lower Primary Schools at Chirayirmbu, near Kozhencherry, and at Aanamala, near Pullad.

At Muloor Memorial

A good number of children were also initiated into the world of dance, music and other art forms.

Ezhacherry Ramachandran, noted Malayalam poet; Fr Mathew Daniel, former Principal of Kozhencherry St Thomas College; and D. Gopimohan, Pandalam NSS College Principal; led the Vidyarambhom held at the Muloor Memorial at Elavumthitta, near Aranmula, in the forenoon.

Venues

Kannassapparambu at Niranom, Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan Smriti Mandapam at Kadammanitta, Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy Temple at Neerettupuram, Navaratri Mantapam at Pandalam, Thiruvalla Sree Ramakrishna Ashram, Thiruvalla Sreevallabha Temple, Malayalappuzha Bhagavathy Temple, Orippurathu Bhagavathy Temple at Thatta near Adoor, Kallooppara Bhagavathy Temple, Kaviyur Mahadevar Temple, Saraswati Kalakshetra at Omalloor, and Amrita Vidyalayam at Thukalasserry, were the other major centres where a large number of children were initiated into the world of learning.