Panachikkadu Festival

Panachikkadu Festival, often referred to as the Dakshina Mookambika Utsavam, is held at the Saraswati Temple in Panachikkadu, Kottayam. While the temple observes various rituals throughout the year, it becomes a major spiritual hub during the Navarathri period, particularly on the day of Vijayadashami.

The festival is most famous for Vidyarambham, the ritual initiation of children into the world of knowledge. Thousands of parents bring their toddlers to have their first letters traced in plates of rice or on their tongues with a golden ring. Surrounded by lush greenery and a natural spring where the deity is worshipped, the festival is a cornerstone of Kerala's educational and cultural tradition.