Petals!

Harishree Ganapataye Namaha! Vidyarambham begins! On this auspicious day of Vidyarambham, Malayalis honour this timeless tradition of invoking Goddess Saraswati's blessings. Worldwide, this day is honoured by Malayalis as a day of learning.                                                                                               [Image: Pipop Kunachon on Pexels.com] And so, Vidyarambham begins today!  [Watch on YouTube: All About Navaratri and Vidyarambham] Let our young ones write and read as much as they can.  Support and encourage them in every way you can.                                                    ...

Significance of Ganesha worship: With obeisance to Lord Ganesha, wishing you more success and joy in 2025 as the year progresses! We begin every New Year with renewed hope and confidence for a better tomorrow. In Hinduism, new beginnings are synonymous with Ganesha worship; so are auspicious occasions. Subscribe To Svara's Newsletter on Books, Travel & Culture Why Do People Worship Ganesha or Ganapati? No undertaking can begin without first invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesha. In the most famous and earliest Rig Vedic mantras, Ganesha is invoked thus: "Ganaanam Tva Ganapatim Havamahe (2.23.1)" As a Rig Vedic deity, Ganesha is also called as 'Brihaspati' and 'Vacaspati' - one who manifests himself through a mass of Light. His battle-axe is described as his most important weapon and he is always in the company of 'ganas' which represents a group of his following. What is the Power of Ganesha? Ganesha is revered as 'Prathama Vandana Gauri ...

Vidyarambham 2019 will forever remain one of my happiest moments of the year.   Growing up, the festival of Vijayadashami is linked to my happiest memories with my cousins and parents, a remembrance of piping hot prasadam and books that are carefully wrapped and labelled and then, placed in the puja room. [READ: How and Why Malayalis celebrate Vidyarambham]                                                [Image: Pixabay] Believe it or not, three times a day, a puja would be conducted at home.  Those were the days when we didn't have domestic help as an integral part of inside kitchen chores. This meant that everyone pitched in. Yes, it seems almost unthinkable nowadays.   Back then, all family members would gather and pitch in for cooking and cleaning and so on.   [Read: Vidyarambham - The Labyrinth Within] A sense of togethe...

For Malayalis, Vidyarambham is an auspicious day on which the elders and children mark the day by writing the sacred words, "Harisree Ganapathayeh Namaha." The observance of this ritual may differ from region to region, community to community and family to family. Whatever I share here is based on how vidyarambham is celebrated in my home. [Read: Vidyarambham - The Labyrinth Within]   Vidyarambham: How Malayalis observe this sacred day In families where the children are gearing up to enter pre-school or play school and are not yet ready to join the formal schooling system, Vidyarambham marks an important occasion for an elder to introduce them to the world of "vidya" or "knowledge." The words ''Harisree Ganapathayeh Namaha" are written on the child's tongue by the grandparent, an elder or parent.                                        [Image credit: Travel Manorama Online ...