FESTIVALS
 
 
Navarathri - September 26, 2022 to October 5, 2022
 

It is popularly known Saraswathy Pooja. Saraswathy is known as goddess of Knowledge. Students are kept their books for Pooja on this day and all tools are kept for Pooja by the workers.

It is an auspicious day for Children who are to begin their schooling are made to write the first alphabet in rice or sand with their finger.

It is called by different names in different parts of India vz. Dasara / Kali Pooja.

Literally Navarathri means Nine nights. This festival is celebrated for Navagraha Naayagi (Nine nymphs).

 
Poojavaipu / Pooja Eduppu
 

The Navarthri is celebrated all over India. In some places it is called Dussehra, in some other places `Kalipuja' or `Saraswathi Puja' and in still others, `Ayudha Puja'. It is because of the Divine Mother is worshipped in her different manifestations namely Durga, Saraswathi, Kali, etc. The Puja in connection with Navarathri is known as Bhuvaneswari puja that means, the worship of `Universal Mother'.

The festival is celebrated during September-October. The last three days of the Navarathri are called Durgashtami, Mahanavami and Vijayadasami, and they are considered more sacred than the other days for Devi worship.

During these days, Saraswathi puja and Ayudha Puja are performed. The Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped as the Goddess of Learning, the deity of Gayathri, the fountain of fine arts and science, and the symbol of supreme vedantic knowledge. The importance of Ayudha Puja (the worship of implements) on this occasion may be due to the fact that on the Vijayadasami day, Arjuna took back his weapons, which he had hidden in a Vani tree in order to lead a life in disguise for the promised period of exile. It is believed that one who begins or renovates his learning to work on the Vijayadasami day will secure a grand success as Arjuna did in Kurukshetra war.

 
 
 
On the Durgashtami day a ceremony called Poojavaipu is performed in the evening.

The books and grandhas (holy books) are tastefully arranged with a picture or an image of Goddess Saraswathi in front. Then a Puja is performed to Saraswathi during which fruits, beaten rice, roasted paddy (malar), jaggery etc, are offered to Her. These offerings are distributed among those present when the Puja is over. Just before the Pujavaipu, all studies and work are suspended.

On the Vijayadasami day after a Puja in the morning, the Books and implements are removed from the room and this ceremony is called `Puja Eduppu'. The time for the break up of the puja marks the beginning of learning and work. Learning and work commence at this auspicious moment.

“ Ezhuthinu Iruthu' or 'Vidyarambham' is performed at this auspicious day. The children for the first time are given instructions to write the first few alphabets on rice or sand and according to custom only after this ceremony child becomes entitled to write or read.

 
 
 
 
 
 
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