Mangalore: Mahanavami – Day to Revere Tools, Vehicles  
 
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore (RS/SB)
 
Mangalore, Sep 27: The owners of vehicles, workshops and machineries celebrated Ayudha Puja with all reverence on Sunday September 27, 2009. 
 
The vehicles, machineries and metal instruments in shops such as tailoring shops and printing press among others were decorated with various flowers and decoratives. The machineries were clean spic and span after proper cleaning and washing. Priests blessed the shops and performed puja for machineries and vehicles. The workshops were closed down for a day’s rest as per tradition. 
 
Most of the vehicles in city were seen decorated with flowers as a sign of the puja. As per the hindu tradition the people believe that performing of Ayudha Puja once a year is a way of respecting the machineries and vehicles that serves them. 

 
Workshop owners celebrate by burning crackers at the time of puja and also distribute sweets. While most of the vehicle owners perform puja at workshops, few others visit temple for a puja. 
 
In rural areas, agriculturists perform puja to pumpsets and other machineries used for agricultural activities. Ayudha Puja falls during the season of Mahalaya, on the day of Navami which is also called as Mahanavami, the ninth day of Dasara festival.
 
The epics say that the practice of Ayudha Puja was initiated by the royals who ruled our country and worshipped their weapons such as bow and arrows used during war. With time, the puja celebration has become a tradition.
 
Ayudha Puja is also the part of Navratri celebration where after the celebration of this day, the next day is celebrated as Vijaya Dashami, the day to begin any work that needs to be successful and also initiate children into education by making them write their first few letters, the ritual known as aksharabhyasa.