Pushpa Achanta writes about a unique celebration of Ayudha Puja in Bangalore last 11th October 2005, pointing out that connectedness between people of different religions is being built everyday through our day to day lives, our celebrations, our humanness.

What is Ayudha Puja? Translated literally, it stands for the worship of the key weapons, tools, implements et al essential for one's work. To a warrior, 'Ayudham' means arms, to a farmer, the plough and other farm equipment, for a student, books, to a writer, a pen (or probably a computer keyboard in this electronic age) and so on...

But isn't it primarily a Hindu festival? That's what I'd assumed. Or never stopped to think. Although I was aware that factory workers, bus drivers and the like, cleaned, decorated and worshipped their machinery and vehicles particularly on that day irrespective of their religious beliefs.

Well, what I saw last year was an eye-opener! It was unplanned and unexpected. And definitely unforgettable. I've heard of and been to inter-faith gatherings. But none like that one.

Zeenat, Sakuntala and a couple of children handled the decorations. Women and children of all ages filed in. Geeta addressed the group (of around forty people) on the significance of the Puja and urged a few kids to light a lamp. She invited Mary, Hasina, and Chennamma to light another one. Rukmaniamma, Rama, Emma and the rest of us watched excitedly, singing and clapping as Kasturi completed the rites.

That was my best Ayudha Puja. And perhaps the most memorable Puja ever.
The one with Hasina, Mary, Chennamma and the others in Stree Jagruti Samiti. Where the obvious often doesn't matter. But unity is strength. And mere presence radiates energy.

Stree Jagruti Samiti (SJS) is a 15 year old collective of domestic workers in Bangalore that also helps rescued child labourers and children of housemaids.

Most kids are girls in the 7-16 age group who either attend government or government aided schools. SJS women and other volunteers also conduct science and story clubs, child rights awareness campaigns and adolescent girls' and women's workshops to educate and remind the women and children of their basic rights. Some of these activities are done in conjunction with APSA (Association for Promotion of Social Action) and SICHREM (South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring).

Puspha Achanta can be reached at apushpa@yahoo.com

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