The ninth day of Navaratri is Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja in Tamil Nadu. Books, musical instruments and account ledgers are stacked before the goddess of learning and left untouched for the day. Everything else that earns a living, the lathe, the sewing machine, the autorickshaw, the bus, the computer, is cleaned, smeared with sandal and kumkum, garlanded and worshipped.
The story
The Pandavas hid their weapons in a vanni tree when they went into a year of disguise, and took them down again on this day before the battle. Ayudha means weapon; the worship has long since extended to every tool.
The last three nights of Navaratri belong to Saraswati. Tamil Nadu has one of the very few temples to her, at Koothanur, where the twelfth-century poet Ottakoothar is said to have received his gift.
சரஸ்வதி நமஸ்துப்யம் வரதே காமரூபிணி । வித்யாரம்பம் கரிஷ்யாமி ஸித்திர்பவது மே ஸதா ॥
Saraswati, I bow to you, giver of boons, who take what form you will. I am about to begin my studies: may success be mine always
Said before beginning to study
How the day goes
- Books before the goddessTextbooks and notebooks are placed at the golu and not read until the next morning.
- Ayudha PujaWorkshops, factories, bus depots and offices stop work, clean their machines and do puja to them.
- PoosanikaiA white pumpkin smeared with kumkum is smashed on the road in front of a vehicle to take away the evil eye.
- Pori and kadalaiPuffed rice, roasted gram and jaggery are the offering, handed out to everyone.
- SundalThe last evening of the golu.
Why this date
Saraswati Puja is the Navami of the bright fortnight of Ashvina, on the day it is present at sunrise. When Navami is not present at any sunrise, it shares a day with Vijayadashami.
Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Wednesday | |
| 2029 | Monday | |
| 2030 | Saturday | |
| 2031 | Friday |
More Tamil festivals
7 OctoberDurga Ashtamiதுர்காஷ்டமி
9 OctoberVijayadashamiவிஜயதசமி
28 OctoberDeepavaliதீபாவளி
4 SeptemberVinayagar Chaturthiவிநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி
24 AugustGokulashtamiகோகுலாஷ்டமி
4 NovemberSkanda Sashtiகந்த சஷ்டி
Where to see Saraswati Puja and Ayudha Puja
In Tamil Nadu
- Saraswati Temple, KoothanurTamil NaduOne of the only temples in the south where she is the chief deity; children's slates and pens are laid at her feet.
- Meenakshi Temple, MaduraiTamil NaduThe last of the nine evening alankarams.
- CoimbatoreTamil NaduThe mill and workshop city, where every factory gate is hung with banana stems for Ayudha Puja.
Across India
- MysuruKarnatakaAyudha Puja at the palace: the state sword, the elephants and the horses.
- KollurKarnatakaMookambika's temple, where children are started on their letters next morning.
- BasarTelanganaThe Saraswati temple on the Godavari.