Police seek blessings from the almighty and perform puja with their weapons and vehicles

Ahmedabad: Sunday being Vijaya Dashami, senior IPS officer Dr. Rao performed puja with guns and other weapons at police’s armoury at city police headquarters.

A similar ritual took place at Home Guards’ headquarters where the city commander performed the ritual and sought blessings for his men.

Vijaya Dashami, popularly known as Dussehra, holds significance to police and paramilitary forces. As the legend goes, it was the day when Goddess Durga killed Mahishasur and Lord Ram killed Ravana in the battle of good and evil. As their work involves such struggle and a responsibility to protect people, police seek blessings from the almighty and perform puja with their weapons and vehicles.
In Gandhinagar, state chief minister Narendra Modi took part in the traditional ‘shastra pujan’ at his residence where he offered garlands, tilak and prayers to the weapons he had received as gifts. His team of security guards and senior police officials were present at the ceremony.
No puja for private weapon owners:
Due to recently-concluded civic elections and approaching panchayat polls, private weapon owners across the state could not perform the rituals this year. They had been asked to deposit their weapons by the collector’s orders till the elections get over. According to police, the city alone has more than 250 licence-holders for private weapons.