Ayudha Pooja is on Friday 29th September 2017.
Ayudha Puja Timings:
Vijay Muhurat/Timings = 2:09 PM to 2:56 PM
Duration = 0 Hours 47 Mins
Navami Tithi Starts = 11:36 PM on 28-September-2017
Navami Tithi Ends = 11:49 PM on 29-September-2017
About Ayudha Pooja/Shastra Pooja:
Ayudha Puja is performed on Navami Tithi during Maha Navratri, which is significant only in South Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Ayudha Puja is also called as Shastra Puja and Astra Puja.
Originally the purpose of Ayudha Puja was to worship weapons, but at present, all kinds of instruments are worshipped on this day. In South India, craftsmen worship their tools and instruments on this day, which is similar to the Vishwakarma Puja, performed in other parts of India.
The present trend is to observe Ayudha Puja as Vahana Puja when people worship their vehicles like cars, scooters, motor bikes, etc. On this day all vehicles which are in use, both public and private, are cleaned and decorated with vermilion, sandal paste, garlands, mango leaves and banana sapling and worshipped. There is a specific custom by which a white pumpkin is decorated with vermilion and turmeric and smashed in front of the vehicle with a belief that it will get rid of all types of evils.
South Indian calendars mark both Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja. According to Dharma Shastras, it is suggested to perform Saraswati Puja during Purva Ashadha Nakshatra of Navratri.
Saraswati Puja in South India:
In South India, Saraswati Puja is performed on the last day of Navratri and Ayudha Puja is also performed on the same day. Next day of Saraswati Puja, children of age of 4 to 5 years go through Vidyarambham ceremony, a ritual that initiates the learning process.
In Northern and Western India, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped for four days during Navratri which comprises of Saraswati Avahan, Saraswati Puja, Saraswati Balidan and Saraswati Visarjan.