Narendra Modi performs Shastra Puja at his residence in Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Oct.17 (ANI): On the occasion of Vijayadashmi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi performed 'Shastra Puja' at his official residence in Gandhinagar city on Sunday.

Traditional symbolic weapons such as swords were worshipped by Modi as part of this ritual.

The National Security Guards on duty to protect Modi and Gandhinagar police officials were present during the prayer ceremony at the minister's residence.

Speaking on the occasion Modi enumerated the importance of weapons in our Indian culture and highlighted the essence of two terms of Shastra in Hindu faith - one meaning scriptures and the other to denote weapons.

"Our culture involves Shastra (pronounced Shaastra) and Shastra. Here Shastra (weapon) is as valuable as Shastra (literature). The weapon takes its inspiration from scriptures. In our Hindu tradition, that is thousand years old, we have never occupied even one inch of land. Hindus have never invaded someone or picked up arms for wrong reasons," said Modi.

According to Hindu mythology, on this day Lord Rama beheaded Ravana, the ten-headed demon king.

Modi added that learning from the victory of Lord Rama, one should instil the capacity to overcome our shortcomings.

This year the final day known as Vijayadashmi was celebrated on Sunday (October 17). (ANI)