Milagres Church Parish Priest Blesses Vehicles the Catholic Way to Mark ‘Ayudha Puja’
Mangaluru : There is no question about it, Catholics like blessings. It’s part of our faith and culture. We regularly bless people, places and things – religious things and secular things. But how about the blessings of vehicles to mark the Hindu festival ‘Ayudha Puja’ in a Catholic religious way.. Traditionally, Ayudha Puja is celebrated by Hindus to honour all equipment and instruments that aid in their daily work. For Hindus, staying true to the ideology, the site of the Puja itself is a workstation. The custom of removing all evil eyes is performed by smashing a white pumpkin and a coconut. But ‘Ayudha Puja’ blessings that took place at the Milagres Church compound didn’t involve any breaking of pumpkins/coconuts, or tying limes.chillies, instead Rev Fr Bonaventure Nazareth -Parish Priest, along with couple of clergy went around the vehicles parked in the church premises and sprinkled Holy water on them, along with short prayer. That was simple and fast- Blessing complete!
The Vehicle Blessing was scheduled after Saturday 24 October evening mass, and on Sunday 25th October morning masses This was something unique that the Catholic churches are doing to mark “Ayudha Pooja”, although blessings of cars/vehicles usually takes place on the Feast day of St Christopher. The feast of St. Christopher used to be on the Universal Calendar on July 25. If you carry a medal of St. Christopher in your car, as millions do, your children will be especially interested in his life.
According to legend, he carried a child on his shoulders across a treacherous river one day, and in midstream almost collapsed under the weight. Only when he reached the other shore did he realize that he had carried the Savior upon his back. St. Christopher is widely venerated as the patron of travelers. In many churches, cars/vehicles are blessed on his feast day. Speaking to Team Mangalorean Fr Bonaventure Nazareth said, ” For the last few years we have been blessing the vehicles after Mass, to mark ‘Ayudha Puja” day, just to respect the tradition of the local Hindu community. Ayudha Puja , a traditional Indian festival where we thank our creator for giving us resources and equipment to earn our daily bread. The Church has inculturated this Indian festival and blesses vehicles which help us in our journey to work, business of pleasure. To make it easy for Catholic faithful whent time, who attend maa at their convenient time, the vehicles were blessed after every mass on Saturday and Sunday”.
Ayudha Puja – is a worship of whatever implements, even vehicles one may use in one’s livelihood. On the preceding evening, it is traditional to place these implements 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, it will help one to see one’s work as an offering to God. It will also help one to maintain constant remembrance of the divine. (In India it is customary for one to prostrate before the tools one will use before starting one’s work each day; this is an expression of gratitude to God for helping one to fulfill one’s duties.)
It’s a nice devotional practice and an expression of faith. But remember, God will be your passenger only as long as you’re safe and careful while on the road. So, if you missed to bless your vehicle today, come 25 July 2021, bless your vehicle on the Feast of St Christopher. St. Christopher, pray for us on “Vehicle Blessing Day” or call it the Indian way- “Ayudha Puja’?