Ayudha Puja 2024, also known as Shastra Puja or Astra Puja, is an important festival celebrated during Maha Navratri, especially in South India. It is a day dedicated to worshipping the tools and instruments that people use in their daily work.
The festival is observed on the ninth day, or Navami Tithi, of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Ashwina, aligning with Navratri celebrations. Read on to check the date, history, and significance of this special occasion.
Ayudha Puja 2024
Ayudha Puja is one of the most sacred Hindu festivals, where tools and equipment used in daily life are worshipped. It is celebrated on the ninth day, or Navami Tithi, of Shukla Paksha during Navratri in the month of Ashwina.
As a gesture of respect, devotees perform Shastra Puja, honoring weapons, and also worship books, which are seen as instruments for earning a livelihood, symbolically becoming one’s personal shastra.
Ayudha Puja 2024 Date
According to the Panchang, Navami Tithi falls on Udaya Tithi on October 12. Therefore, Ayudha Puja will be celebrated on this day.
Ayudha Puja 2024 Time
The following table provides essential timings for Ayudha Puja 2024, including the start and end of Navami Tithi and the auspicious Vijay Muhurta for the celebrations.
| Ayudha Puja 2024 Time | |
|---|---|
| Event | Date & Time |
| Navami Tithi Begins | October 11, 2024 – 12:06 PM |
| Navami Tithi Ends | October 12, 2024 – 10:58 AM |
| Ayudha Puja Vijay Muhurta | October 12, 2024 – 01:30 PM to 02:17 PM |
Ayudha Puja 2024 Significance
Ayudha Puja is a traditional festival primarily centered around the worship of tools, weapons, and vehicles. Originally, warriors and soldiers honored their arms, but this ritual has evolved over time to include various instruments and vehicles. It holds special significance in southern states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, where it is deeply rooted in local culture and customs.
Typically celebrated on Navami Tithi during Navratri, Ayudha Puja often coincides with Maha Navami. In modern times, it has transformed into Vahana Puja, where people decorate and worship their vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and scooters. P
articipants adorn their vehicles with vermilion, turmeric, garlands, mango leaves, and banana saplings. A unique aspect of this ritual is the decoration and smashing of a white pumpkin in front of the vehicle, a gesture intended to ward off evil and ensure the vehicle’s safety and smooth operation throughout the year.
The Vahana Puja process involves meticulously cleaning and decorating vehicles. Applying vermilion and turmeric serves as a mark of respect, while the smashing of the white pumpkin symbolizes the removal of negativity and protection from harm.
In South India, many calendars also highlight Saraswati Puja alongside Ayudha Puja, as both are interconnected. According to most Dharma Shastras, Saraswati Puja during Navratri is ideally performed during Purva Ashadha Nakshatra, an auspicious time for invoking the goddess of wisdom and knowledge.
While Ayudha Puja focuses on honoring tools and vehicles, Saraswati Puja is dedicated to the goddess who grants knowledge and learning. Both festivals are celebrated with equal enthusiasm and reverence.
Ayudha Puja 2024 History
Ayudha Puja has deep roots in the legend of Goddess Durga and her epic battle against the demon Mahishasura, who transformed into a buffalo to challenge her. This fierce struggle lasted nine days, culminating on the eve of Navami, when Durga emerged victorious, thanks to the divine powers and weapons granted to her by the gods.
The ritual of Ayudha Puja honors the weapons and tools that played a crucial role in this legendary conflict, serving as a tribute to the strength and valor of the goddess in overcoming evil.
Ayudha Puja 2024 Rituals
On Ayudha Puja, people engage in various rituals, beginning with cleaning their homes and purifying tools and weapons. Devotees celebrate by performing puja using haldi (turmeric), kumkum (vermilion), and sandalwood paste on this auspicious day.
In addition to seeking blessings, worshipers also honor their vehicles, along with books and accounting materials. This special occasion involves offering flowers and chanting Vedic mantras, making it a day of reverence and gratitude for the tools and knowledge that aid in daily life.
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| Dussehra 2024 | Indian Air Force Day 2024 |
| World Postal Day 2024 | Durga Puja 2024 |
| World Mental Health Day 2024 | World Sight Day 2024 |
Ayudha Puja 2024 FAQs
Q.1. When is Ayudha Puja celebrated in 2024?
Ans. Ayudha Puja will be celebrated on October 12, 2024, coinciding with Navami Tithi during Navratri.
Q.2. What is the significance of Ayudha Puja?
Ans. Ayudha Puja honors tools, weapons, and vehicles, symbolizing respect for the instruments that aid in daily life and recognizing the victory of Goddess Durga over evil.
Q.3. What rituals are performed during Ayudha Puja?
Ans. Rituals include cleaning homes, purifying tools and vehicles, performing puja with haldi, kumkum, and sandalwood paste, and chanting Vedic mantras.
Q.4. What is Vahana Puja?
Ans. Vahana Puja is a modern extension of Ayudha Puja, where devotees decorate and worship their vehicles, ensuring their safety and smooth operation for the year ahead.
Q.5. How is Ayudha Puja connected to Saraswati Puja?
Ans. Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja are interconnected festivals, with both celebrated during Navratri, honoring tools and knowledge, respectively.
