Ayudha Puja held at DSBA in all its traditional glory

Ayudha Puja is an integral part of the Navaratri festival (festival of triumph), a festival that is customarily celebrated at DSBA every year. It is traditional to place all kinds of instruments used in the day to day college life on an altar to the Divine. If one can make a conscious effort to see the divine in the tools and objects one uses each day, one can maintain constant remembrance of the divine. This is also an occasion for expression of gratitude to God for helping one to fulfil one's duty.

Ayudha Puja was celebrated on 28^th September’17 in the forenoon. There was a frenzied activity in the morning in the foyer of the college as each one soaked in the festive spirit! Students and the house keeping staff made huge rangolis in multi hued colours at the entrance to the M-Block. The pillars and the door ways were festooned with flower garlands, mango and banana leaves. Ms Sandhya, Mr Lokesh and Mr Naveen- Administrative Staff ,DSBA procured all the essential items required for the puja and decorated the office with flowers, banana and mango leaves. On the table and at the altar of God and Goddess, all things sacred was placed like vermilion, betel nuts, betel leaves, flowers , fruits, coconuts, books, incense sticks, incense cones, sweets, and stationary among other items. A huge rangoli adorned the floor in front of the decorated table. To mark the auspicious beginning ,Ms Rajeshwari lit the lamps.

Prof Harikrishna spoke about the significance of the festival to the gathering consisting of Dr [Brig] Sandes-Principal, DSBA; Dr Veena K N- Dean, DSBA, Prof Nikitha- HOD, DSBA; faculty, students and the housekeeping staff. Ms Navya and Ms Lakshmi [I Sem BCom] sang hymns invoking Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi. This was followed by Prof Harikrishna’s chanting of Sanskrit mantras which enchanted each one present. He performed all the rituals to appease the divine. A pumpkin was broken at the foyer to ward off evil spirits and negative energy. At the end of the puja ritual, the aarthi was done and distributed to the people who had lined up. The management of DSI had arranged a packet of puffed rice and sweets to be given to each employee of the institution, which was handed over by the Principal and Mr Lokesh.

Greeting for the ongoing Navratri festival was exchanged by all!