Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Author 
"In the great books of India, an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence, which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the questions that exercise us."
Sishu Mandir in Kandi Village organized Aksharabhyasam for about 25 children aged 2-3 on January 26th which happens to be Vasantpanchami Day in Kandi Village in Telangana. We have a long association with the school for decades. In fact my wife’s brother and his children donated to build third floor for the school and renovation of some part of the building. 
    I spoke on the occasion to impress upon the importance of education as well as teaching about the Hindu dharma. We have to impart the individual responsibility and parents must play a major role in instilling the moral compass. We have to make sure that our children would appreciate the richness and width of our Hindu Dharma. 
    Parents are urged to learn about our dharma and it is not late to learn the greatness of our culture. Other religions are taking advantage of our lack of knowledge and try to allure our children by enticing them with biscuits and chocolates etc. and take them to their churches and brain wash them. Once we start teaching about our dharma and how it is universal, our children would be our ambassadors. I requested them to make sure that they would not tell them that they do not know if their children ask them questions. We requested them to consult the teachers at Sishu Mandir and fill their minds with the nector of wisdom. 
    If we fill the glass with right kind of information, no body can fill it with dirt. Education must be used for skill development as well as development of personalities with morals and character. We should emulate the qualities of our Gods and Goddesses. 
Aksharabhyasam is a Sanskrit word. The word is a combination of two letters: Akshara means ‘letters / alphabets’ and Abhyasam means ‘practice’. Aksharabhyasam means “the study of practical letters”. In this function a child is given initiation for writing / education. With this function the child is ready to receive formal education in a school. The function is performed in different ways in different regions of India.
Aksharabhyasam is a traditional religious ceremony in which the child is given initiation of Education. It involves worship of Goddess Saraswati.
Aksharabhyasam includes pre-writing skill which is initiated when the child is as young as 2 years old. It is not about mastering the art of writing but developing skills to help train small muscles in the child’s hands and fingers so they can complete the motions necessary to eventually form letters.
Normally the child sits in his father's or maternal uncle's lap for 'aksharabhyasam'. The child is made to hold a plate full of rice grains spread on it or a slate. The person in whose lap the child sits, holds its hand (normally right hand) and makes him / her write the first letters which are either 'AUM' or 'Om Namah Sivaya' in regional language after the pooja is performed by the priest.
Vasant Panchami day is dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami day. Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami and Saraswati Panchami It is believed that without Saraswati the world would be shrouded in ignorance, as she is the one who represents enlightenment. Basant Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day (Panchami Tithi) in the Hindu month of Magha, Shukla Paksha.
Basant Panchami is the time when people start giving the first lessons on education to their children. This custom is referred to as Vidyarambam. It is also known as Aksharabhyasam.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Ghar Waapasi is going on unimpeded. We appreciate it if you can help in hiring more people who can go to these villages to do Ghar Waapasi. We have employed 20 Pracharaks working at the ground level. More people we hire, more villages can cover to welcome them back and also create Chaitanya (Awareness) among the students and villagers.
1) Sponsor one Bala Samskar Kendra for $1000.00
2) Sponsor one Pracharak: In order to expand our base and hire one Pracharak, it would cost approximately $3000.00 per year. We have five anonymous donors who sponsored Assistants.
DONATIONS
PayPal Method: To donate visit our website: savetemples.org. Click on the Donate button, then press the Purpose category, and select the Ghar Wapasi Donation category.
By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com
By Check: Or you can send a check payable to GHHF,  It is tax-deductible.
RUPEES, if you would like to contribute to rupees, please either call or send an email. We will call you back to give you the required information
For more information, call Prakasarao Velagapudi at; Email: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com