Thrissur/ Palakkad: More than 9,000 children were introduced to the world of letters at Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple here on Vjayadasami day Tuesday.
Temple authorities said there was an unprecedented rush of devotees this year with more than a lakh people thronging the temple for darshan and their queue extended up to the Thrissur-Irinjalakuda state highway more than half-a-kilometer away.
The Ezhuthiniruthu ceremony held at Kallekkadu Kizhakkencherry Bhagavathi temple, Palakkad. (Photo: DC)
The eldest of Thiruvullakkavu Warriam, Madhavan Warrier, father of actor Manju Warrier led the ezhuthiniruthu ceremony that began at 4.30 am.
With its deity, Sastha, who is believed to have in-depth knowledge of Vedas, this is one among the two temples in the state famous for the ezhuthiniruthu, the other being Dakshina Mookambika Temple of Panachikkadu in Kottayam. The temple is believed to have a history of 2,000 years.
Even though the temple does not have a Saraswathi idol, the presence of the goddess of knowledge is believed to have been in the temple during Navaratri celebrations.
“There was a huge rush to collect the special ghee distributed in the temple meant for kids, mixed with Ayurvedic ingredients and made by Thaikkattu Mooss,” secretary of the temple devaswom A. A. Kumaran said.
From all across Kerala and even from other states, people had arrived at Perumbillissery to make children write their first letters Hari Sree Ganapathaye Namaha in praise of Lord Ganesha.
The ezhuthiniruthu ceremony conducted by 50 acharyas ended by 2 pm and another one-hour-long session was held from 5 pm to 6 pm.
There were nearly 100 policemen and 150 volunteers to control the huge rush of devotees.
There was a massive rush of devotees to Thunchan Madam in Chittur, where Thunchath Ezhuthachan had spent the formative years of his career on the Vijayadasami Day. Initation ceremonies were also held at Lakkidi Killikurissi Mahadeva temple, Vadakathra Devi temple, Hemambika temple and Kallekkadu Kizhakkencherry Bhagavathi temple.
