Indian defence minister blesses assault rifles, machine guns during Dussehra ‘weapon worship’ ritual

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was seen blessing and paying homage to weapons during a ceremony on Dussehra, symbolising the victory of good over evil.

The ritual, known as 'Shastra Puja', took place during the Navratri festival, a nine-night celebration of Lord Ram's victory over Ravana in Hindu mythology, emphasising the triumph of good over evil.

Videos circulating on social media showed Rajnath singh adorning  ssault rifles and machine guns with garlands while other weapons were also decorated with flowers during the religious ceremony. 

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Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh performed traditional Shastra Pooja at Sukna Military Station in West Bengal on Dussehra, honoring Indian Army's respect for weapons as protectors of national sovereignty. "We fight for integrity, sovereignty & human values, not hatred or… pic.twitter.com/dSfhvakvuz

— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) October 12, 2024

In his speech after the ritual, Rajnath Singh remarked, “Onlookers might find it odd to see us worshipping items made of wood and metal and paying respects to non-living things.”

He further explained, “But in reality, it is part of our great Hindu tradition, where we express gratitude to objects before and after their use.”

India’s extremist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) also held drills to mark the occasion, claiming their religion is under threat due to the infiltration of non-Hindus.

“We must thwart malicious attempts against the foundations of our society before they take hold,” RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said.

Opposition parties criticised the RSS for promoting communal divisions in the country through such practices.