Ayudha Puja 2026: Drik Panchang lists Ayudha Puja in India on Tuesday 20 October 2026, together with Vijayadashami. In Tamil Nadu, Kerala and many South Indian homes it is kept with Saraswati Puja on Maha Navami, Monday 19 October. In the USA, Canada and the UK, Maha Navami is Monday 19 October, so many families abroad keep Ayudha Puja that evening or with Vijayadashami the next day; follow your family custom or local temple. For the step-by-step vidhi, see Ayudha Puja vidhi for tools, vehicles, books and laptops.

Why Ayudha Puja during Devi Navaratri?

Vijayadashami is one of the festivals celebrated with great devotion across India. Together with Navaratri and Durgashtami, it is celebrated grandly as the Dasara festival. During Devi Navaratri, this Ayudha Puja has a very special place. Many Hindus follow this custom, handed down through generations, with deep devotion and faith.

On this sacred day, many Hindus place all the things connected with their work, and other equipment, before Durga Mata and worship them.

Who worships which tools

Farmers honour their sickles and ploughs, those who own vehicles their vehicles, tailors their sewing machines, handloom weavers their looms, and factory workers their machines and other tools: they smear them with turmeric and kumkum and worship them as equal to the deities.

Doing Ayudha Puja every year has become a long-standing custom. But why is Ayudha Puja celebrated, and why is it given so much importance? Several stories are told about this. Let us look at them now…

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The Pandavas and the Shami tree

A popular account says that the Pandavas hid their weapons in the Shami (jammi) tree before their year in disguise (ajnatavasa), and after that year ended they took them back on Vijayadashami and worshipped them. (In the Mahabharata's Virata Parva, Arjuna retrieves the weapons from the Shami tree at the end of the year in disguise.) Before going to war, special pujas were performed for Arjuna's Gandiva bow along with Bhimasena's mace.

It is said that in this way they pleased the Goddess, the embodiment of Shakti, and the Pandavas made ready for war. On the other hand, it is also said to be the day on which Goddess Durga, the great Mother who wards off misfortune, slew the demon Durgama (Durgamasura).

Durga Devi, who frees from worldly bonds

Among the five great forms of Prakriti (Pancha Prakriti), Durga Devi is the first. The Mother blesses those caught in the bonds of worldly life and grants them moksha. Many believe that remembering the Mother, who shines with the radiance of a crore suns, on this day removes troubles caused by enemies.

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Mantra and order of worship on Ayudha Puja

On Ayudha Puja day, it is believed that chanting the mantra 'Om Dum Durgayai Namah' brings auspicious results. The Lalita Ashtottara should also be recited. After that, the Ayudha Puja or Astra Puja should be performed.

For the sankalpam to say before the puja, see the Ayudha Puja sankalpam with meaning.

From sports kits to phones and laptops

Today, Ayudha Puja has spread from sports gear to kitchen utensils. During times like the Covid pandemic, many people began worshipping their bats, cricket kits, gas stoves, phones, computers and similar items.

Vehicle owners can follow the Ayudha Puja and vehicle puja mantras and vidhi.

Regional traditions

In some regions Ayudha Puja is called Astra Puja. In Kerala, Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja are done on Navami: books and tools are placed for puja (Pooja Veppu), and on Vijayadashami they are taken back and children begin their learning with Vidyarambham. In Tamil Nadu, Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja are done together on Navami. Golu (Bommai Kolu), the display of dolls arranged during Navaratri, is also a cherished custom there.

Read more about Saraswati Puja and Vidyarambham on Vijayadashami, and about the Shami puja in Vijayadashami 2026 mantras, Aparajita and Shami puja vidhi.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Ayudha Puja done during Navaratri?

Ayudha Puja honours the tools and implements of one's work as sacred, placing them before Goddess Durga during Devi Navaratri. Popular stories link it with the Pandavas, who retrieved their weapons from the Shami tree at the end of their year in disguise, and with Durga's victory over the demon Durgamasura.

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When is Ayudha Puja in 2026?

Drik Panchang lists Ayudha Puja on Tuesday 20 October 2026, together with Vijayadashami. In Tamil Nadu, Kerala and many South Indian homes it is kept with Saraswati Puja on Maha Navami, Monday 19 October. In the USA, Canada and the UK, Maha Navami is Monday 19 October; follow your family custom or local temple.

What do people worship on Ayudha Puja?

Each person honours the tools of their work: farmers their sickles and ploughs, vehicle owners their vehicles, tailors their sewing machines, weavers their looms and factory workers their machines. Today many also place bats, cricket kits, gas stoves, phones and computers for puja, decorated with turmeric and kumkum.

What is the story of the Pandavas and the Shami tree?

In the Mahabharata (Virata Parva), the Pandavas hid their weapons in a Shami tree before their year in disguise (ajnatavasa). By popular tradition, Arjuna took them back on Vijayadashami when that year ended, and the weapons, including the Gandiva and Bhima's mace, were worshipped before the Kurukshetra war.

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Which mantra is chanted on Ayudha Puja?

The author suggests chanting "Om Dum Durgayai Namah" and reciting the Lalita Ashtottara, and then performing the Ayudha or Astra puja. For a full sankalpam and step-by-step vidhi, see the Ayudha Puja guides linked on this page.

Editor's note (19 October 2026)

This article was contributed in Telugu to HinduTone. The Telugu version is the original; this English page is a faithful translation of it. We made light edits: the Pandavas and Shami tree story is given as in the Mahabharata's Virata Parva and popular tradition, the Kerala and Tamil Nadu customs are stated as they are commonly observed, statements about results are framed as belief, spelling is corrected and the 2026 dates are added. Dates are from Drik Panchang.

Last updated: 19 October 2026.