This year Dussehra fell on a day that has two other important celebrations – Ayudha Puja and Purattasi Saturday, Thiruvonam Nakshatra. For us it was additionally the day that we held our quarterly advisory council meeting for ShikshaDaan. A special day, also a very busy day.
The day started early for us. We first went out for a quick morning walk. Found Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad being fenced in, ready to be burnt later in the evening.
We took help from Ashish to clean the car fully as today is also Ayudha Puja. Didnt go for a long walk but managed to walk about 3.2 kms.
Purattasi Last Saturday
Since today was the last Saturday of Purattasi and it happened to be Tirupati Balaji’s nakshatra, Thiruvonam, Kousalya and I decided to light the Perumal Maavu Thiruvilakku. I roasted the rice flour in ghee, added jaggery, some desiccated coconut, a few cardamoms powdered. Then made a small indentation in the middle and lit a ghee lamp.
Ayudha Puja
Ayudha Puja is significant since it’s the day you thank all the weapons, implements, tools, etc for making your life easier. So thank the car for taking you from one place to another safely. Likewise, thank the computer for putting the world under your fingertips :). Read more – Ayudha Pujai 2021.
After these two pujas, we just got ready for our advisory council meeting. We missed watching the Ravan Dahan as we thought it would be later in the evening, but it was done earlier.
I received the pics from Peelamedu Anjaneyar Kovil early in the morning… Hanuman is giving darshan today in Surya Prabha alankaram. Yet another amazing alankaram done by Narayana Bhattar who is in the following photograph.
Wishing everyone a very happy Dussehra, also celebrated as Vijayadashami. It’s not just a victory of good over evil …. do read an earlier blogpost of mine Dharma Vs Adharma ≠ Good Vs Evil. Hindu festivals and the Upanishads, Vedas and other scriptures are far more deeper than just a superfluous victory of good over evil. Do spend some time on this spiritual path to truly celebrate our festivals.
All those celebrating Maa Durga, Shubho Bijoya 🙏🏿. May Mother Durga keep us the path of dharma and bless us with Moksha. May Mahishasuras living in our midst be vanquished by the Durga inside each of us.
#HinduFestivals
Great day mam. Great 👍 😊