Oct 4, 2022
Ayudha Puja — Thanking the Machines that earn our Livelihood
Due to a traumatic incident that happened at age 10, I stopped celebrating festivals, all of them. Yet, there is always a sublime, and logical reasoning behind our festivals, which I respect, understand and acknowledge.
The title of the festival refers to weaponry.
You look at history, safety is always ensured with weapons and not much else. Human beings, being, human beings, are prone to betrayals and backstabbing just as much they are inclined towards loyalty and following a code of honor.
I would say, the TV show, Game of Thrones, summaries human nature in the best possible way.
Of course, now, we don’t defend our own homes. We have the society that functions to keep us safe. Most of us don’t even have weapons to defend ourselves. We simply assume we are safe, and hope nothing bad happens.
As it happens with everything, as time moves forward, festivals evolve. So, this festival, evolved from worshiping weaponry (meant to keep us alive, I assume) to worshiping anything that helps us earn a livelihood, the work things (which, keep us alive).
That is why, of all the festivals, this is the festivals that is very close to my heart. I do not celebrate but, I understand it. Every day, when I get up, I thank my computers, gadgets, the work desk and everything else, that helps me earn a livelihood.
I do the same, just before I go to bed.
So, if you are reading this, I hope you did not have any traumatic childhood incident, and hence, can celebrate this wonderful festival in all its glory.
Happy Ayudha Pooja. May the gods protect your tools of livelihood for years to come.
I work as a full-time freelance coding tutor. Hire me at UpWork or Fiverr or Stack Overflow. My personal website is here. Find more of my art at Behance and Unsplash. Also, I have a Podcast about everyday life. And, a 2nd Podcast, where I talk about freelancing.
