Coastal districts celebrate Ayudha Pooja with pomp and gaiety

Vehicles were specially decorated and aligned for the pooja. A number of associations had organised various contests and entertainment programmes.

Special rituals were performed at most of the Hindu homes, shops, workshops, commercial complexes and offices. 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 idols or images of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati. According to Hindus this worship is an expression of gratitude to divine force for helping to earn. 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.

During the Ayudha Pooja offered to the rifles and other armaments usually handled by the armed forces to guard citizenry in the City Police Commissioner Manish Kharbikar, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Goyel, DCP Muthuraya, ACP Kavitha were present among other officers.

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.

Sharavu Temple at Car Street, Mangaladevi Temple among other temples arranged special poojas on the occasion.

There was brisk sale of pumpkins and corns needed for the Ayudha Pooja.

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