Vidyarambham ceremony at Thiruvullakkavu temple, Thrissur

This video is on the Vidyarambham ceremony held on the Vijayadasami day at Thiruvullakkavu temple in Thrissur (Trichur). The temple is well-known for Vidyarambham ceremony (the ritual of initiating children into the world of letters). This ceremony has more takers on the Vijayadasami day than any other day in a year.

Vijayadasami is celebrated on the tenth day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Ashwayuja or Ashwina. The day marks the grand culmination of the 10-day annual festival of Navarathri (navaratri).

Thiruvullakkavu temple is an important place of worship in Thrissur district of Kerala, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, also called Lord Dharmasastha. This temple, an ancient one is situated amidst a forest in Peruvanam village, on the way to Irinjalakkuda.

The main deity, Lord Dharmasastha is normally invoked as the ‘Hunter and the Protector’. The idol is of the Lord, holding a bow and an arrow that symbolises his expertise in hunting.

The moolaprathishta (main idol) is believed to be a swayambhoo (of self-origin). It is portrayed as the Lord with his consort Pushkala and son Poorna.