An auspicious step towards acquiring knowledge

Apeejay Rhythms, Model Town, Jalandhar, recently hosted the ‘Vidya Aagam’ ceremony for the tiny tots of nursery and pre-nursery, to mark their initiation into institutional education. The ceremony was organised outdoors, within the school premises to introduce young children to alphabets and the overall process of learning.

The ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp. Later, the toddlers were encouraged to write ‘Om’ and ‘Ek Onkar’, as per their religion, on paddy plates, with some help from their parents and grandparents. Writing on grains is believed to denote the acquisition of knowledge.

Parents garlanded their children and put ‘tilak’ on their foreheads. They were even treated to some special renditions of the Ganesh Vandana by a class 7 student, followed by Saraswati Vandana by a student from LKG, and Shabad (religious hymn of the Sikh community) by a class 4 student.

The ceremony marked the children’s first visit to school amid the pandemic. It was presided over by Sinia Sajith, principal, and Nidhi Ghai, headmistress.

Ghai said, “‘Vidya Aagam’ turned out to be a great success as parents appreciated the way their children took part in traditional rituals before being introduced to the school and their books. It was the ‘shubh aarambh’ of knowledge.”

The event concluded with the principal extending her best wishes to the young children and their families for beginning a new journey into the world of education.

“In Sanskrit, this is called ‘Vidyarambham’, a Hindu tradition, which introduces small children to the world of knowledge, letters and process of learning.”

– Sinia Sajith, Principal, Apeejay Rhythms, Model Town, Jalandhar