As many as 239 children were initiated into the world of alphabets in ‘Akshara deevena’ programme in Srisailam temple in Kurnool district, organised on Wednesday by the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad under the aegis of the Endowments Department.
Children of downtrodden sections, backward classes and Chenchu tribe constituted a majority of those initiated into the world of knowledge by priests of Srisailam temple. Several pilgrims of Kurnool, Atmakur, Nandyal, Kadapa, Karimnagar and Hyderabad too got their children initiated in the programme.
In tune with the temple traditions, temple priests lit a lamp, explained the importance of literacy and made ‘aksharabhaya sankalpam.’ They performed pooja to Sri Ganapathi, Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy, Sri Bhramaramba Devi and Sri Saraswathi Devi and offered prayers to the slates, slate pencils and notebooks.
After the pooja, the priests sprinkled holy rice (mantra askhatha) amidst vedic chants and presented the slates, slate pencils and notebooks to the toddlers. Srisailam temple executive officer K.V. Sagar Babu couple, priests, children and their parents participated.
