Unlike traditional ways of celebrating Dusshera, Gorkha wahini of Jharkhand Armed Police -I ((JAP-I)) observes it in a unique way. Instead of worshipping Goddess Durga for nine days, the Gorkha wahini in Ranchi worships arms and weapons from its arsenal and Devi is given a salute of guns.
Weapons like AK-47, INSAS rifles, pistols, mortar, carbines, rocket launchers and grenades are placed on the stage, decorated and worshipped on Navmi during Dushehra. Animals are sacrificed and women worship Devi for the safety of their husbands and sons.
Idea behind worshipping these weapons is that they play an important role in the combat of JAP-I jawans with Maoists and criminals. According to a devotee, they can only fight when their weapons function properly in the field. In order to secure the well being of their men, they worship their weapons once in a year during Puja. “These weapons keep our men safe in the difficult situation,” he said.
As majority of Gorkha jawans are engaged in the fight with Maoists and criminals who face regular threats while providing security to the people of the state, this weapon puja is considered to be a life saver for them. Moreover, weapons also signify Shakti, a form of Durga.
“As these weapons signify ‘Shakti’, a form of Durga as she has arms in all of her ten hands, we believe that the arms of Durga, used in the destroying Mahishasur, have now been transformed into the modern arms like AK 47 and INSAS rifles,” said President of Police Men’s Association (JAP-I) Rajkumar Pahal.
They are not only displayed but are fired at every step of performing puja right from day 6 till it is concluded. Main puja is performed on day nine on Navmi, when sacrifice of several black spotless goats is done with the firing of bullets. “It is believed that the devi gets happy with the deafening sound of bullets, it is our own way to please her,” said Pahal. This time, as many as 20 goats will be sacrificed to please the Devi, he added.
Weapon worship by Gorkha Wahini was started way back in 1880 at the Bihar Military Police -ground during undivided Bihar. Even though, BMP was renamed as JAP-I after Jharkhand came into being in the year 2000, age old tradition of weapon worshipping continued.
Idol worship is considered a bad omen among the Gorkha community as a commandant of BMP in 1953, once tried to set up an idol of Goddess Durga following which the whole company had to face numerous problems. Jawans including the commandant fell ill, and many died after an epidemic broke out. After that incident, worship of weapons was resumed which continues till date.
JAP-I is considered to be one of most efficient forces in Jharkhand police, engaged in several anti-Maoist operations as well as other security related activities of VVIPs and top police officials. A major chunk of JAP commandos belong to the Gorkha community, who celebrates Durga Puja with enthusiasm.