Viswakarma,
the God of Engineering and Architecture
Hindu
mythology is not a product of several decades. It started from the beginning of
the human settlements in our subcontinent. As I have told earlier, the forces
of nature slowly turned into Gods and Goddesses. I think no one is sure about how
the God of Engineering and Architecture came into our minds. Still, I think, as time passed, the
sages told the Kings about the art of engineering and its benefits to the
upcoming society. I am sure that men created the Gods and Goddesses in their
own form when they needed the most. Viswakarma also came in the same way, when
people of our subcontinent started to build settlements. The nomadic people
were slowly settling down in groups. The reason, why I told such a story of His
existence on Earth is because today is the festival of engineering. God
Viswakarma is worshipped throughout India and
Bangladesh. The worship starts as per traditions and customs. After the
puja(worship) sweets are distributed among the devotees and other attendants. The
significant feature of the puja is that today we fly kites in the sky. Although
the tradition is seldom maintained by the people, but there is section of
people who prefer to leave all sorts of works and feel free to fly kites sky
high in the evening. The reddish-orange sky is filled with colorful patches of
kites which when fly very high, feel like dots.
 |
| God Viswakarma |
The
kite flying is both exciting and tough. It seems like people literally fight
among themselves in the form of kites. It starts just after the puja ends, at
around 4 pm. People start gather on roof tops and open spaces. But the actual
fighters are ready from the morning. Such is the excitement of kite flying. Today,
I watched many kites fall down. Children running around the streets to collect
the kites fallen down. People often shout when they see two kites fighting for
their stands. In my childhood, I too used to fly kites with my father and
brothers. We too had to fight with others. Most of the time, I used to loose. So
most of the time I used to hold the latai
(spool). I used to watch all the kites and wonder why they fight, why can’t
they just fly them rather than fighting. I also wondered why kite flying is
done today only. The query was soon answered by my father. Kite is said to be
the first engineering marvel. So, in respect of the first day of Engineering on
Earth, we celebrate it by flying kites. Strange were the people who invented
it, and, stranger were those who started to celebrate this day. I still enjoy the
day because it reminds me of my childhood days, but the very fact of complexity
of our religion goes on in never ending lines.
