Chennai, 19 Oct (H.S.): Homes, businesses, offices and educational institutions across Tamil Nadu bustled with festive activity on Monday as people celebrated Ayudha Puja, offering prayers to the tools, machinery and equipment that support their livelihoods.

The festival, observed on the ninth day of Navaratri, also marked Saraswati Puja, with devotees worshipping the goddess of learning, wisdom and the arts. Navaratri celebrations began on October 11.

From factories and commercial establishments to classrooms and households, preparations centred on cleaning and decorating workplaces, arranging offerings and conducting special prayers. Machines, tools and other equipment used in industry and trade were adorned for the occasion.

Businesses and factories distributed sweets, rice and chickpeas to employees, sharing the festive spirit with their workforce. The celebrations brought colleagues together for prayers honouring the instruments central to their daily work.

At educational institutions, books were placed before images of Goddess Saraswati, also known as Kalaivani. Offerings were arranged on banana leaves as students and teachers joined the rituals.

Sweet pongal, sundal, flattened rice, puffed rice, groundnuts and fruits formed part of the offerings made to the goddess. The observances highlighted the importance attached to education, artistic pursuits and knowledge during the festival.

Vehicle owners washed and decorated their cars, motorcycles and other vehicles before performing puja. Similar rituals were held at workplaces, where equipment was cleaned and arranged for worship.

Temples also witnessed an influx of devotees seeking special darshan on the auspicious occasion. Major pilgrimage centres, including Tiruvannamalai and Tiruchendur, drew crowds as worshippers arrived to offer prayers.

The celebrations linked religious devotion with everyday life, bringing books, vehicles, machinery and household implements into the rituals. Across homes and workplaces, families, students and employees marked the occasion with offerings and prayers, expressing reverence for learning, labour and the tools associated with their work and daily activities.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman