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Ayudha Puja at Iraivan Carving Site, Part 1

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Aum sivaya,everyone.
Ayudha Puja is a important puja for all production units. Iraivan worksite celebrates this in a grand way. All the silpis will be very happy because they will receive their bonus and new clothing.

Here is the group photo of the silpis . Jiva Rajasankara and Senthilathiban is seated .

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This is another group photo where Thuraisingam is seated. Chinmayie (Thuraisingam’s daughter) is standing with Senthilathiban..The third generation has joined the function. We will learn her to learn this craft.
We do not allow boys under 18 to work. The boy standing is a son of one of the silpis .

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Puja begins at the blacksmith (pattarai) Our retired silpi, Sundaramachari came to join the function. We allowed him to do the puja.

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After the puja, he shows the arati to all the silpis.

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A new stone is normally blessed and chipped on this day. Supervisor Manikandan is preparing the thread to mark the stone. Sundaramachari is doing the puja.

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The stone is marked with the red oxide thread. The silpis are looking on.

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It is a tradition that the sthapati or the supervisor starts the first chipping. Then each of the silpis come forward to chip. After chipping they apply sandal paste and kumkum on the point where they chipped.

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After the chipping a huge pumpkin with coins inside is taken around the stone three times and broken . It is done to remove evil thought forms.

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One of the highlights is when the silpis rush to pick the coins when the pumpkin is broken.

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Puja is done to the gangsaw. This machine can cut 2.5 feet in depth. You have to cut 0.5 inches at a time.
Periperal wall stones will be cut using this gangsaw.

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After the puja, the machine is started. Water keeps pouring from the shaft above while it cuts.

There are 2 trolleys below the stone. The top trolley can rotate 360 degrees. This makes it easy to cut any sides without removing the stone.


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