Ayudha Pooja in 2024 falls on October 11, marking the ninth day of Navratri.
Ayudha Pooja is a Hindu festival celebrated with grandeur and is observed as a public holiday in most regions of India. On this day, devotees worship the tools and instruments that help them in life, including vehicles, books, spanners, machinery, etc. It is believed that worshipping these integral items on this holy day brings success and prosperity to life.
Devotees also pray to the Tri devis,
- Saraswathi– the Goddess of wisdom and art,
- Lakshmi – the Goddess of wealth and Prosperity and
- Parvathi – the divine mother
on this auspicious day. The beauty and significance of Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami are captured intricately in the art of Tanjore. Particularly, Saraswathi Tanjore paintings depict the Goddess in vivid colors and gold foil, reflecting her grace and benevolence.
What is Ayudha Pooja?
“செய்யும் தொழிலே தெய்வம்!” is a Tamil proverb that says the work we do is akin to God.
Ayudha Pooja is the day to express gratitude and honor the tools and instruments that help in our lives. In southern India, Ayudha Pooja is also celebrated as Saraswathi Pooja, where the tools are presented to the Goddess to receive her blessings and permission.
Mythologically, Ayudha pooja is also celebrated to pay honor to the weapons Goddess Durga used in her battles against Mahishasura.
Rituals of Ayudha Pooja 2024
- Cleaning and decorating: Devotees wash their instruments, tools, and vehicles and tie garlands to them.
- Pooja ceremony: Later they perform Pooja, show Aarthi, and worship them in front of Goddess Saraswathi.
- Book Worship: Children also clean their books, apply tilaks on the books, and leave them in front of the Goddess for the rest of the day.
- Temple Visit: People wear new attire, visit the temple, chant mantras, and take part in the poojas.
- Celebration and gifts: After the rituals, sweets are distributed and gifts are exchanged. Popular gifts are portraits of the goddess, like the Tanjore painting of Saraswati, as the art form holds cultural and religious significance.
The essence of Ayudha pooja is to see the importance of simple equipment that helps us in our daily lives and pay respect to them. Just like how Lord Rama and Goddess Durga ensure their weapons are clean and ready for battles, you must always keep your equipment ready to prosper in life.
What is Vijayadashami?
Vijayadashami falls on October 12, while Ayudha Pooja in 2024 falls on October 11.
The remarkable festival of Vijayadashami marks the triumph of good over evil. Also called Dussehra, it is celebrated in different ways around India on the 10th day of Navaratri.
The mythological origins of Vijayadashami trace back to the epic Ramayana. It marks the day Lord Rama slayed the 10-headed Ravana, hence the name Dussehra. It is also the day Goddess Durga killed the asuran Mahishasuran and established Dharma. In some beliefs, Vijayadashami is related to the Mahabharata. It marks the day Arjuna defeated the Kauravas during their period of exile in Virata.
Rituals of Vijayadashami
- Burning of Effigies: In many parts of India, with respect to Dusshera, huge effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad (son of Ravana) are set on flames to symbolize the destruction of evil.
- Cultural performances: It is then followed by celebrations and performances, called the Ram Lila, where Lord Rama’s life is portrayed through songs and plays.
- Fireworks: Colorful fireworks are observed in many regions as part of celebrations.
- Durga Pooja: Devotees also worship Goddess Durga and perform Durga Pooja, which is celebrated with great passion, especially in West Bengal.
- Pooja offering: Fruits and flowers are offered to the Goddess and prayers are done to receive her blessings of strength and protection.
- Durga Visarjan: The immersion of idols of Durga in the river, known as Durga Visarjan, takes place, symbolizing her return to Kailash.
Celebrations Across India
Both Vijayadashami and Ayudha Pooja are celebrated uniquely according to different beliefs and faiths in different regions of India.
Ayudha Pooja
- The traditional festival is celebrated as Ayudha Pooja in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
- In the Northeast, the auspicious day is celebrated as Maha Navami, where Maha Aarti is performed.
- In Odisha, it is celebrated as Astra Puja, where weapons of soldiers and Kshatriya’s swords are worshipped alongside artisan’s tools.
Vijayadashami
- In Nepal, Vijayadashami is celebrated as Dashin. On the tenth day, Vijayadashami is marked by receiving tika and jamara blessings from elders.
- In Himachal Pradesh, the festival is celebrated as Kullu Dussehra, where the celebration begins on Vijayadashami, and continues for seven more days.
- In Mysore, the festival is weaved with the royal heritage and celebrated with grandeur, consisting of the procession of Goddess Chamundeshwari.
- In Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and Assam, Vijayadashami marks the day of Durga Pooja also known as Sharadotsav or Durgotsav.
How to Celebrate Ayudha Pooja & Vijayadashami with Ethnic Tanjore Arts
One of the important rituals of both festivities is to share gifts. These gifts are symbols of devotion and cultural significance, radiating positivity, peace, and happiness.
Ganesha Tanjore paintings are gifted for a new beginning, to ward off evil and destroy obstacles. Whereas on occasions like Vijayadashami and Ayudha Pooja, you can gift intricately sketched Tanjore paintings of Goddess Saraswathi, Lakshmi, or Durga.
These paintings are the result of long hours of labor, love, and devotion. With adornments of 22-carat gold foils and precious stones from Jaipur, the paintings add grandeur and beauty to the Goddesses.
To purchase an Exquisite Painting, explore the collection from Ethnic Tanjore Arts.
Conclusion
Festivities bring people together across different regions to celebrate the victory of righteousness over evil. This Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami, may the divine shower you with the blessing of happiness, peace, and prosperity.
Celebrate the auspicious festivals by bringing home Tanjore paintings depicting the Hindu Gods in all their glory.