humanityashore.com

by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

“Vijayathasami” is celebrated today-September 28th 2009, the last day of Navarathri or nine nights. The Navarathri festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathy.

Kaveri is being taught Tamil alphabets

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Tamil Alphabets being taught bySitsabesa Kurukkal

Vijayathasami is an auspicious day to initiate learning for the children, which is known as “Eadu Thodangal” or “Vithyaarambam”(Vithya means Knowledge, and Aarambam means Beginning) in Tamil.

Parents thronged the temple in the morning with their children dressed up in traditional clothes. The brought a tray of either red raw rice or white rice or paddy, a tray of fruits, fresh flower garland and Tamil alphabet book.

After the Ragu Kaalam, at 9.10am the Chief Priest Sitsabesa Kurukkal (also known as Mani Iyer) of Sammankodu Sri Kathirvelaiyutha Swamy temple in Bambalapitty ( also known as Maanikka Pilliyar Thirukoyil) sat right in front of the sanctum, either parent kept the child on their right hand lap, the chief priest while holding the right index finger of the child draws the Tamil alphabets on the rice or paddy. Writing on either rice or paddy denotes acquisition of knowledge which leads to prosperity

The initiation into the world of syllabify usually begins with the writing of alphabets. அ ஆ இ ஈ உ ஊ எ ஏ ஐ ஒ ஔ ஃ were written. He keeps pronouncing the alphabets at the same time (அ ஆ இ ஈ உ ஊ எ ஏ ஐ ஒ ஔ ஃ).

At the end of the ceremony the children were fed with sugarcane candy, and had a drop of pure honey on their tongue. The children were initiated to the world of learning, parents were happy. The merrily attended morning ceremony has brought back cherishing childhood memories.

Pigeons swarm in the temple compound

Devotees gathered on an auspicious day to begin the alphabets for their children

Bell tolls at Sammankodu Sri Kathirvelaiyutha Swamy temple

Carvings covered with pigeons

Main Kumbam which is decorated and kept among the Kolu for nine days

Manthras being chanted by Sitsabesa Kurukkal of Sammankodu Sri Kathirvelaiyutha Swamy temple in Bambalapitty

Vijayathasami is associated with victory of good over evil

Charming Kolu is set at the Sammankodu Sri Kathirvelaiyutha Swamy temple in Bambalapitty

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Manthras being chanted by a priest of Sammankodu Sri Kathirvelaiyutha Swamy temple in Bambalapitty

Kaveri is being taught Tamil alphabets

Navathaaniyam grown during Navarathri festival

The festival is dedicated to Mother Goddess

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Tots being initiated to the world of learning by Chief Priest of Sitsabesa Kurukkal (also known as Mani Iyer)

Chettiyar is served with variety of grains

The Hindu way of life is liberal

Thevaram Thrivaasagam being recited by Sivarasa, a devotee at Sammankodu Sri Kathirvelaiyutha Swamy temple

Happiness and work are wedded together

Elaborate poojas are offered during the festival

Navarathri is a festival of joy

Thavil and Nathaswaram being played @ Sammankodu Sri Kathirvelaiyutha Swamy temple in Bambalapitty
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