Akshara Abhyasa

Akshara Abhyasa (start of education or starting literacy. This is a minor ritual done around the three-year period. The father holds the child's right hand and to the chanting of priests who asks God's blessings, he helps the child trace the alphabet on a plate of rice with a golden ring. the child is thus initiated into study. The first letter traced is usually om which is the symbol for god and true knowledge in world prayers are offered to ganesh. who removes obstacles, to saraswathi, the goddess of learning, and to the kula devatha. the family deity who protects the entire family tree.