VIJAYADASHAMI......

VIJAYADASHAMI, also known as DASSEHRA, is an important festival in India. Following nav-ratri (9 nights) pujas, the 10^th day puja or 'dashami', is a festival with reference to victory of Bhagwaan Shri Ram over the demon king Ravana. The day also refers to victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasur.

I am particularly interested in making reference of this day to commencement of and reaffirmation to education in young children. I believe, it is not enough if we are simply literate. It is important that we should be well-educated. Good education is the noble path for good future. In most houses in India, children keep books for puja, referred as ‘Saraswathi puja’, on the day of Vijayadashami. Goddess Saraswathi is inspiration for good education. After the puja, the books are taken out and read. The tradition, known from time memorial is well-practised with devotion even today, in all parts of India.

Goddess Saraswathi is symbol of good learning and attainment of wisdom and refinement. It is a divine force for knowledge-building in all aspects education including science and technology. This auspicious day is used to initiate good work and inaugurate good institutes. I understand that the renowned educationalist late Pandit Man Mohan Malaviya founded the famous Banaras Hindu University on the Vijayadashami Day in 1916. I will soon be visiting the Institute of Agricultural Sciences at BHU, Varanasi, to give a few special lectures on Mycology & Plant Pathology....      

Upon Dassehra holidays, my grand-daughter came for a week and we faithfully celebrated the Saraswathi puja. May Goddess Saraswathi bless us all with good education and all well-being....

D. Jayaram Bhat