Chikkamagaluru: Monday, October 10 is Ayudha Pooje, the day of Navrathri when the tools and equipment, vehicles and machinery used to earn livelihood are given a day’s break and are offered prayers. This day is celebrated by the Hindus with all devotion and fervour.
However, here in Chikkamagaluru, a Muslim youth stood out by celebrating ‘Ayudha Pooje’. On Monday morning Siraj, proprietor of SMS Bus company celebrated Ayudha Pooja in a grand manner by offering prayers to the vehicles and by distributing sweets. He made sure that the prayers are held in the most traditional manner, without any deviation.
As many as six buses owned by Siraj were cleaned and kept ready early in the morning and later as per traditions, vermelion paste, sandalwood paste and other auspicious materials were applied on the buses. The buses were embellished with flowers and mango leaves. A temple priest had arrived to offer prayers to the buses as per traditions. A smiling Siraj welcomed everyone who turned up at the venue to be a part of this ‘different’ event.
“My feeling is that these divisions are all man made and I have no respect for anything that makes us fight out one another,” says Siraj, who has been following this Hindu tradition of Ayudha Pooja over the last eight to ten years.
The act of Siraj holds a lot of significance especially at a juncture of time when mutual disrespect and distrust had hijacked our feelings.