By IANS,
Kozhikode : Hindus in Kerala observed Mahanavami with religious fervour Wednesday and organised special prayers in temples and homes.
Makeshift prayer halls were erected on road side and in public places like reading clubs where prayers were offered to goddess Saraswati by offering fruits, beaten rice, roasted paddy and jaggery.
Tuesday evening, the Durgashtami day, a ceremony called Poojavaipu was observed in temples and in certain households. In homes, books were tastefully arranged with an image of the Hindu goddess of learning.
“We arranged the ceremony at home,” said Shyam K. of Kozhikode.
Before Poojavaipu all studies and work, which mainly require skills, are suspended.
“We stopped work Tuesday evening. We will open for work on Vijayadashami day (Thursday),” said T.K. Sreedharan, owner of Sree Lakshmi automobile workshop.
On the day, Kerala will celebrate Vidyarambham, when tiny tots are initiated into the world of letters.