R K NAGAR: Continuing an annual tradition, the 2nd Battalion of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) observed Vishwakarma Puja along with Astra Puja, or worship of arms, at its camp here on Monday.
For TSR jawans, whose duties require them to handle weapons throughout the year, the Astra Puja holds particular significance and is regarded as the central part of the observance, even though it is held alongside the customary worship of Vishwakarma, the divine craftsman.
As part of the rituals, arms and equipment used by the battalion were cleaned, decorated, and worshipped with due reverence, in keeping with a practice followed every year at the camp. Personnel of the battalion took part in the puja, offering prayers for safety, discipline, and protection in the discharge of their duties.
The observance reflects a long-standing tradition among paramilitary and police units, who mark Vishwakarma Puja not merely as a craftsman’s festival but as an occasion to honour the tools of their profession — their arms.
The puja concluded peacefully, with battalion personnel taking part with the discipline and devotion characteristic of the force.