Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Foreigners initiated into world of Malayalam letters

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, OCT. 23. Hundreds of tiny tots were initiated into the world of letters at the auspicious Vidyarambham ceremony held at various places of worship, educational institutions and cultural centres in different parts of the district today.

Vidyarambham was held at Sree Ramakrishna Ashram at Adoor, Vijnana Kala Vedi at Aranmula, Mulloor Memorial at Elavumthitta, Kannassapparambu at Niranam near Thiruvalla, besides a number of temples and schools in the district.

Foreigners

Madhavan Namboodiri of Thiruvalla Arayalkeezu Illom led the Vidyarambham ceremony at the Vijnana Kala Vedi run by the Frenchwoman Louba Schild at Aranmula this morning.

Eleven foreigners - Charlotte Jolly of the United Kingdom (U.K.), Anita Sanders of the United States (U.S.), Jennifer Walden (Canada), Mary Mallicote (U.S.), Dan Sandowsky (U.S.), Molly Sandowsky (U.S.), Anita Alix (France), Rodney Lai (U.S.), Ghania Sakki (France), Emma Lewis (U.K.) and Romain Guion (France) - were among those who were initiated into the world of Malayalam letters at the ceremony held in a traditional style.

A sangeetha aradhana led by Thrikkodithanam P. Raveendranath was held at Vijnana Kala Vedi later.

The Mohiniyattom arangettam by Correne Mathou of France, music concerts by Sreekala Sreekumar, Muraleedhara Kurup and Master Vaisakh and a Bharatanatyam performance by Kumari Lakshmi Suresh were the highlight of the Vijayadasami celebrations at the cultural centre today.

The noted Malayalam poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan led the Vidyarambham ceremony at the Vallicaud Library and Reading Room, attached to the State Library Council. Noted literary figures Ezhacherry Ramachandran and Prof. Thumpamon Thomas led the Vidyarambham at the Muloor Memorial today.

Amrita Kudumbom fete

The Vidyarambham jointly organised by the various Amrita Kudumboms attached to Mata Amritanadamayi Mutt was held at the Gym Palace Auditorium in Pathanamthitta this morning. Swamini Bhavyamrita Chaitanya led the ceremony.

The Vidyarambham organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad at the Sree Ramakrishna Ashram at Adoor was led by the tantri of Thiruvalla Sree Vallabha Temple, Akkeeramon Kalidasa Bhattathiri.

The Vidyarambham ceremony was also held at Kudassanad St. Stephen's Orthodox Church near Pandalam, Kadambanad St. Thomas Orthodox Church near Adoor, the Mar Thoma Lower Primary School at Anamala near Pullad, besides various schools in the district.

Fr Mathew Daniel, principal of Kozhencherry St. Thomas College, led the Vidyarambham at the Pullad Anamala MTLP School near Kozhencherry.

Our reporter adds from Kollam:

The ezhuthiniruthual ritual performed by eminent persons in the district today saw hundreds of children take their first step into the world of letters.

Presented were given to the little ones by some of the organisers. At one of the venues in the vicinity of the Kollam beach, schoolchildren rushed to take part in the ritual as news of the distribution of presents spread. The organisers had a tough time convincing the children that they were too old to attend the ritual.

At Kollam city, the ritual was organised at more than 40 venues.

Tillery Capuchin Friary

Some of the ezhuthiniruthual rituals were unique. The priests at the Tillery Capuchin Friary here introduced tiny tots to the world of letters with the words Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The ritual held inside a chapel had a traditional Hindu feel to it.

The literary critic K. P. Appan presided over the Vidyarambham ritual for the ninth consecutive year at the same venue - the Neeravil Navodayam Library. Mr. Appan donates the entire dakshina he receives to the Neeravil library fund.

Prominent among those who presided over the ritual in the district are O. Madhavan, Poovachal Khader, Thirunellur Karunakaran, Perumbadavam Sreedharan, S. Balaraman, and S. Sulabha.

The biggest crowd had collected at the Anandawalleshwaram Temple in the city. The temple was the primary choice for many parents. Many in fact take their children for the ritual to other venues only after making their children sit for the ritual at the Anandawalleshwaram Temple.

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