City celebrates Ayudha Pooja with pomp and gaiety

Mangalore, October 5: The coastal city of Mangalore, which is gearing up for a grand Dasara procession, celebrated Ayudha Pooja with traditional piety on Wednesday, the ninth day of Navaratri.

All types of vehicles including bicycles were out on the streets after grand water wash and decorated with flowers and frills.

Members of Hindu community worshipped the tools, vehicles, electrical appliances or instruments that are used in their occupation.

All the implements that are part of one's occupation, such as machines, vehicles, tools etc. were cleaned properly, polished and decorated. They were smeared with sandalwood paste (tilaka) and turmeric paste. Flowers were offered. They were worshipped along with the deities or images of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati. This worship was an expression of gratitude to divine force for helping to earn, according to their belief. It was also a prayer and a request for successful execution of duties in the coming year.

Apart from business establishments, shops and petty vendors, many government officials and police officers too spruced up their work premises and bedecked them with fresh flowers, banana leaves, plantain saplings and other festival related festoons.

Most government offices and establishments including Mangalore City Corporation performed Ayodha Pooja on Tuesday evening as government employees are enjoying a holiday at their homes on Thursday.

During the Ayudha Pooja offered to the rifles and other armaments usually handled by the armed forces to guard citizenry, Inspector General of Police Alok Mohan, Commissioner of Mangalore City Police Seemanth Kumar Singh, and Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police Labu Ram were present.

Police vehicles looked clean and gleaming, decorated with flowers, and the police forces were beaming in happiness as there was peace and prosperity everywhere in the city. There were no untoward accidents or incidents, but only expressions of joy in police lines and among police officers this morning.

There was brisk sale of pumpkins and corns needed for the Ayudha Pooja. Temples observed Saraswathi pooja, which falls on the ninth day of the Navarathri festival.

Meanwhile political leaders and representatives of coastal districts have greeted the people of the state.