Mangalore: The Ninth Day of Mahanavami in Dushera is exclusively held as Ayudha (Armaments) Puja (worship) Day and to day (Saturday) it is celebrated all over coastal Karnataka, Mysore and the entire state, with devotion to fighting / battling devices, such as bow and arrow, maces and spears (in olden days) and machinery in modern days. Vehicles are decorated with flowers and plantain saplings everywhere.

Once Goddess Chamundeshwari takes up her weapons and kills Mahishasura, there is no need for holding on to weapons again and so, they are given farewell in arms. This has happened again after the fearsome second World War in Europe.

Ayudha Puja was done by Arjuna (as a woman Brihannala) in Uttara Go-grahana event when Pandawas were in the hiding and yet defeated Kaurava fighters who had seized cows in hundreds at Virata Nagara Kingdom.

Ayudha Puja day is considered auspicious for performing a new deed, start a new project or conduct a new campaign, which earns immediate success with all preparations clicking. People exchange greetings of happiness and success on this day for a final victory on Vijaya Dashami day (Sunday), the immediate next day.

It is a precursor to the day when Good triumphs over Evil and Durga Parameshwari is worshipped all over the land in India.

In and around Mangalore, we have Mahanavami Puja at Kateelu, Bappanadu, Mangaladevi, Kudroli and Kadri, besides other Hindu temples such as Ramakrishna Mission in city.