Ayudha Puja (आयुध पूजा)

Ayudha Puja marks the celebration of the victory of good over evil and the destruction of the demon Mahishasura by Devi Durga. It is celebrated as part of Navratri festival. For Ayudha Puja, Devi Saraswati, Parvati Mata and Lakshmi Devi are worshiped. People worship their tools and weapons, similar to Vishwakarma Puja in South India. This year Ayudha Puja will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 04. The festival mainly takes place in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala.What is Ayudha Puja?
❀ Also known as 'Astra Puja' (worship), it is the day when people worship and clean the tools they use, weapons (who have it), machines, tools etc.
❀ These tools can be as small as pins, knives or spanners as well as larger tools such as computers, heavy machinery, cars and buses.
❀ In South India, Ayudha Puja is celebrated along with Saraswati Puja.

How is Ayudha Puja celebrated?
❀ On this day all the instruments are thoroughly cleaned and worshiped. Some devotees place their instruments in front of the Devi to seek the blessings of the Devi and mark the victory she has won.
❀ A mixture of turmeric and sandalwood is applied to tools and vehicles. Some people even decorate these things with flowers.
❀ Students take their blessings by keeping their study material while worshiping Devi Saraswati.

Spiritual and Philosophical Meaning of Ayudha Puja:
According to spiritual gurus and experts, there is a feeling of fulfillment by worshiping yantras and weapons. According to experts, when a person shows reverence for the things he has, it brings him into harmony with the universe.