Sunday, September 27, 2009

Ayudha Puja - the decorations begin


The festival of Ayudha Puja is one of my favorite Indian celebrations. Its name literally means "Worship of Implements." On this day, people pay homage to the tools of their trade. Items such as implements, machines, weapons, books and musical instruments are venerated. 
In preparation for Ayudha Puja, all the tools, machines, vehicles and other devices are cleaned and  then painted or well polished after which they are smeared with tumeric paste, sandalwood paste in special marks/splats, and Kunkum (vermillion). The objects are then decorated with garlands of flowers. One can see these yellow garlands adorning the fronts of vehicles of all sizes, business signs, cement mixers, and fronts of businesses. Banana leaves/stalks, other leaves, and braided palm fronds are also hung or attached. All of this transforms ordinary-looking items to rather whimsical, colorful objects.

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