When is Vidyarambham done?

On Vijayadashami, at around age three. The child sits in an elder's lap and traces their first letters in a tray of rice, guided hand-over-hand. Note this is a South Indian practice, in the north the equivalent, on Vasant Panchami, is the more common one. Thunchan Parambu in Kerala is a well-known place for it.

Vidyarambham

Tamil · Malayalam

विद्यारम्भम · વિદ્યારંભમ

Next date

21 October 2026

Wednesday · Shukla Dashami

Tithi begins12:51 PM · 20 Oct

Tithi ends02:12 PM

Full panchang for this day

About

Children are initiated into learning on the day after Vijayadashami. First letters written in rice/sand.

Falls on: Vijayadashami

What it is

A child's formal initiation into learning, at around age three. The child sits in an elder's lap and, guided by their hand, writes the first letters in a tray of rice, in Kerala the words Hari Sri Ganapataye Namah. Books and instruments placed before Saraswati the previous evening are taken back today, having "rested."

Food

Payasam; temple prasadam.

Common questions

When is Vidyarambham done?: On Vijayadashami, at around age three. The child sits in an elder's lap and traces their first letters in a tray of rice, guided hand-over-hand. Note this is a South Indian practice, in the north the equivalent, on Vasant Panchami, is the more common one. Thunchan Parambu in Kerala is a well-known place for it.

2026

Oct21WedWednesdayNextShukla DashamiTithi begins12:51 PM · 20 OctTithi ends02:12 PM

2027

Oct10SunSundayShukla DashamiTithi begins09:02 AM · 9 OctTithi ends11:41 AM