Vishvakarma Puja
| Vishvakarma Puja | |
|---|---|
 Image of Vishvakarma venerated during Vishvakarma Puja | |
| Also called | Vishvakarma Jayanti |
| Observed by | Hindus |
| Date | Kanya Sankranti, the last day of Bhadra (Hindu calendar) |
| 2023 date | 17 September |
| Frequency | Annual |
Vishvakarma Puja (
It falls on the date of Kanya Sankranti of the Hindu calendar. It is generally celebrated every year between 16 and 18 September, according to the Gregorian calendar, the last few days of the Hindu Bhadra month.[3] The festival is also celebrated in Nepal. Vishvakarma Puja is also celebrated a day after Diwali, along with Govardhan Puja in October–November.[4]
Significance
Vishvakarma is considered to be the divine architect of the universe and the personification of divine creativity in the
Practices
The festival is observed primarily in factories and industrial areas, often on the shop floor. The day is marked by artisans, craftsmen, mechanics, smiths, welders, industrial workers, factory workers, engineers, architects, and other workers. Adherents pray for a better future, safe working conditions and, above all, success in their respective fields. Workers also pray for the smooth functioning of various machines. The workers associate their workmanship with the concept of shakti (power), and sometimes see themselves as the children of Vishvakarma.[7] Shrines for the deity are constructed in parts of the workspace for the veneration of tools and machines associated with the line of work.[8] Prasada is often distributed among the workers after offering veneration to the deity for his grace.[9]
In many parts of India, there is a government holiday on 17 September for the occasion, but it is not considered as a national holiday but as a "restricted holiday", whereas in Nepal, there is a full government holiday on this day.
References
- ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
- ISBN 978-1-59884-205-0.
- ISBN 978-0-231-52787-3.
- ISBN 978-81-241-1277-9.
- ISBN 978-81-7625-039-9.
- ISBN 978-81-7022-374-0.
- ISBN 978-0-429-75381-7.
- ISBN 978-1-136-91339-6.
- ISBN 978-1-4828-1689-1.
Further reading
- Bajpai, Lopamudra Maitra (2020). "Celebrations of Vishwakarma Puja". India, Sri Lanka and the SAARC Region: History, Popular Culture and Heritage. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-20581-7– via Google Books.
- Narayan, Kirin; George, Kenneth M. (2019). "Chapter 1. Vishwakarma". In Jacobsen, Knut A.; Myrvold, Kristina (eds.). Religion and Technology in India: Spaces, Practices and Authorities. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-20477-4– via Google Books.
