Jharkhand Armed Police worship ammunition during Durga Puja

October 8, 2008

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October 7th, 2008 - 8:05 pm ICT by ANI -

By Girija Shankar Ojha

Ranchi, Oct. 7 (ANI): Members of the Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP),

especially those belonging to the Gorkha community, have a distinct

way of worshipping during Durga Puja. Instead of the Goddess idol,

these people worship their weapons.

Though people in general worship the idols of Goddess Durga on this

occasion in makeshift temples or Pandals in different States, these

people in Jharkhand worship their weapons as per Nepalese culture.

These people including women assemble to worship arms that include AK

47, Insas rifles, pistols, mortar, carbine and grenades. The Puja is

performed before nine trees that are also worshipped as symbols of

Mother Nature following Nepalese culture.

" The prayer system of JAP campus is slightly different from Hindu

rituals. Here weapons are worshipped instead of idols of goddess

Durga, then air firing is done to appease Goddess Durga, " said, one of

the Jharkhand Sashastra Bal jawans.

Weapons placed on a particular place, on this occasion, are offered

flowers and worshipped. The participating jawans later fire shots in

the air before the trees as a mark of respect to Goddess Durga.

Most of Jharkhand Armed Police commandos belong to the Gorkha

community, which celebrates Durga Puja with unique enthusiasm and

religious fervour.

Gorkhas seek blessings from Goddess Durga that their weapons function

properly when they take on criminals, Maoist rebels and other

anti-social elements.

According to Gorkhas, Durga Puja started in the Jharkhand Armed Police

around 1880 here. " In 1953, a commandant of Bihar Military Police (now

JAP) placed the idol of goddess Durga on the ground. The commandant

fell ill and an epidemic broke out in which many people fell ill and a

few lost their lives. The weapons worship tradition was then again

resumed in 1954 and it is continuing till now, " said Ravi Kumar

Khatree, joint secretary of Jharkhand Armed Police.

Today, in place of the Durga idol, a Kalash (urn) is worshipped.

Animals are also sacrificed to appease the goddess on this occasion. (ANI)

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