Ayudha Puja 2025: Date, Rituals, and Significance

23 సెప్టెంబర్, 2025 • festivals • Navratri

Ayudha Puja, known as the "Worship of Instruments," is a significant celebration during the Navratri festival, primarily observed in South India. Celebrated on the ninth day of Navratri, called Maha Navami, this unique ritual is dedicated to venerating tools, instruments, and weapons that play an essential role in daily life. Ayudha Puja falls on the ninth day of the bright half of the moon's 15-day cycle, as per the Hindu calendar, in September/October. Rooted in ancient tradition, Ayudha Puja honours these implements as divine, recognizing their importance in both personal and professional endeavours.

Mythological Origins

Ayudha Puja is rooted in Hindu legends celebrating the triumph of good over evil. The most common story links it to Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura. Created by the gods, Durga fought Mahishasura for nine days and defeated him on the tenth day (Vijayadashami). The previous night (Navami) became the occasion to venerate the weapons she used, symbolizing her divine power.

In some traditions, Ayudha Puja also recalls Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana in Lanka, another legendary triumph celebrated at Dussehra. In both cases, the festival marks the return of righteous power, so that people honour the “shastras” (weapons and tools) that made that victory possible.

Spiritual Significance

Ayudha Puja highlights gratitude for the instruments of our livelihood. On this day, the three principal goddesses – Saraswati (learning), Lakshmi (wealth) and Parvati/Durga (strength) – are invoked. Worshipping one’s tools signifies reverence for knowledge, prosperity and power. For example, students lay their books and pens before Saraswati to symbolize the triumph of learning, while craftsmen worship their chisels and hammers as sources of creativity. By venerating these items, devotees acknowledge that even ordinary instruments become sacred when used with skill and integrity.

The festival thus reminds us that success in any profession is a combination of diligence, knowledge and divine blessing, and that every tool – from a soldier’s sword to a student’s notebook – plays a role in that journey. Ultimately, Ayudha Puja reaffirms the victory of righteousness and skill over ignorance and chaos.

Ayudha Puja Rituals and Traditions:

All tools and machines are thoroughly cleaned and polished in preparation for the puja.
Items are smeared with a paste of turmeric and sandalwood, marked with a tilak of kumkum, and adorned with garlands and flowers.
Tools and machines (from swords and ploughs to computers and printing presses) are arranged on a pedestal or platform.

On the morning, the puja includes:

Lighting incense and oil lamps.
Offering naivedya (fruits, sweets, or other food items) alongside the tools.
Chanting Vedic mantras and hymns to seek blessings from Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Durga.

In South India, books and musical instruments are also placed before the deity to invoke wisdom and knowledge.

The Vahana Puja custom is followed in many places:

Vehicles (cars, motorcycles, tractors) are washed, decorated, and worshipped for safety on the road
In some communities, a white pumpkin painted with vermilion and turmeric is ceremonially broken to ward off negative forces.
After the puja, tools and machines are returned to use, now believed to carry divine blessings for work.

Celebration of Ayudha Puja across India

South India: Ayudha Puja primarily focuses on the worship of Saraswati, where books, pens, musical instruments, and other educational tools are venerated, symbolizing the triumph of knowledge over ignorance. In Kerala, Ayudha Puja is known as Pujaveppu (beginning worship) on Navami and Pujayeduppu (ending worship) on Vijayadashami. The next day, Vidyarambham is celebrated: young children write their first letters under Goddess Saraswati’s blessings. In Karnataka’s famous Mysore Dasara, the royal family worships its golden weapons, and a decorated pumpkin (Kushmanda) is broken as part of the ceremony.

Maharashtra: Here, Ayudha Puja coincides with Vijayadashami and is called Shastra Puja. All tools, vehicles, agricultural implements and machines are worshipped with leaves of the Shami tree (appaatya pachhe in Marathi), marigolds and freshly harvested grain. People also perform Saraswati Puja, placing books and musical instruments before the goddess. It is customary to exchange Shami leaves (symbolizing gold) on Dussehra as a blessing of success.

Orissa: Traditional tools such as ploughs, swords, daggers, and writing instruments (karani/lekhani) are honoured, emphasizing the deep connection between tools and various professions.

Bengal: The festival is referred to as Siddhidatri Puja or Durga Ashtami, celebrated on the 8th day of Navratri.

Gujarat: The festival is called Shami Puja or Vijayadashami, celebrated on the 10th day of Navratri.

Ayudha Puja Across Professions

Artisans and Craftsmen: For carpenters, sculptors, and artisans, Ayudha Puja is dedicated to honouring their sacred tools—chisels, hammers, and knives. They seek divine blessings for precision and creativity in their work.

Students and Teachers: Students place their books, pens, and musical instruments before Goddess Saraswati, invoking blessings for knowledge and wisdom. Schools and educational institutions often participate in these ceremonies.

Farmers: Farmers worship their ploughs, sickles, and other agricultural tools, praying for a good harvest and protection from natural calamities.

Engineers and Technicians: In the modern era, Ayudha Puja includes the worship of computers, machinery, and vehicles. Factories and industries pause their work to honour the machines essential to their operations.