Bhubaneswar, Oct 21: Vehicle puja emerged as a major attraction across Bhubaneswar on Wednesday as devotees marked Dussehra with special prayers and traditional rituals at Durga Puja pandals across the city.
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From two-wheelers and private cars to auto-rickshaws and buses, vehicles of different types lined up outside temples and puja pandals from the early morning hours. Owners performed special pujas, seeking the blessings of Maa Durga for safety, prosperity and success in their daily lives.
The ritual saw devotees washing their vehicles, decorating them with flowers and garlands, and offering prayers before the Goddess. Many also applied vermilion and other auspicious materials as part of the traditional observances.
Vehicle Puja Marks An Auspicious Dussehra Tradition
Vehicle puja is an important tradition associated with Dussehra in several parts of India. Devotees believe that worshipping their vehicles on this auspicious day brings good fortune and protects them from accidents and other mishaps.
For many, vehicles are essential to their livelihoods and everyday activities. Commercial drivers, transport operators and private vehicle owners participate in the ritual to express gratitude and seek divine blessings for safe journeys throughout the year.
In Bhubaneswar, the practice brought together people from different walks of life, with many choosing to visit nearby puja pandals and temples with their vehicles before beginning their day’s work.
Festive Spirit Grips The Capital
The vehicle puja rituals added another dimension to the Vijayadashami celebrations in the Odisha capital, where devotees have been gathering at decorated pandals to offer prayers to Maa Durga.
The occasion marks the victory of good over evil and the culmination of Durga Puja festivities. Alongside traditional worship, the day is observed through a range of customs that reflect faith, gratitude and hopes for a prosperous future.
With devotees turning up in large numbers for the morning rituals, vehicle puja remained a prominent feature of this year’s Dussehra celebrations across Bhubaneswar, highlighting the enduring connection between religious traditions and everyday life.
