Worship of Tools

A rite traditionally performed on the festival of Dussehra by members of certain
artisan groups. This festival has two different charter myths, both of which
mark the triumph of good over evil. It is
celebrated as the day that the god Rama
slew the demon Ravana, and is also
associated with the triumph of the
Goddess over a demon named Mahishasura. For the artisans, such worship ritually marks the importance of
their tools as a means to earn their
livelihood, and such propitiation is
also believed to guarantee success for
the following year.