A mechanic devotee offers puja to Bishwakarma, the Architect God of Hindus at Basundhara, Kathmandu. Photo by Nikki Thapa 

Bishwakarma is a white-bearded lord, in his hands, he holds a water pot, book, craftsman’s tools, and a noose. This Divine Architect in Hindu Mythology, the son of Lord Brahma, is often seen sitting astride an elephant.

Bishwakarma Puja Day or Bishwakarma Jayanti to many is His birthday that falls on Kanya Sankranti, the first day of Ashwin month of the Bikram Sambat Calendar. It is a very important day for Engineers, Architects, Weavers, Craftsmen, Mechanics, Smiths, Welders, Industrial and Factory Workers. On this day, people decorate their offices with flowers and decorative festoons to organise puja (ritual) at the workplace and worship tools to venerate Lord Bishwakarma. It is resolution time for all craftsmen to increase productivity and get inspired for creating novel products”. In fact, all professionals should celebrate this festival to be blessed to progress in their chosen field of work.

He is an Architect God hence, Bishwakarma's birthday is a very important day for Engineers, Architects, Weavers, Craftsmen, Mechanics, Smiths, Welders, Industrial and Factory Workers. Kathmandu. Photo by Nikki Thapa 

According to Hindu Mythology, this Divine Architect has created mesmerizing palaces for gods in heaven and on earth for those who incarnated as humans. Flying chariots and armory for Gods are also attributed to Him.

He first built the Swarga Lok, a heavenly abode beyond Universe ruled by Lord Indra. This is where all the gods reside.

He designed Lord Krishna's city Dwarka, which now is believed to have submerged in the sea for hundreds of years.

Bishwakarma besides for gods was also the creator of the Mythical Gold Palace in Lanka for Ravana, the ten-headed King of Demons as mentioned in the Ramayan Epic. According to the 5th century Sri Lankan text Mahavamsa, the Lanka of Ravana, an island country on the Indian Ocean must have been Sri Lanka of present times.

His other famous creations are Hastinapur and Indraprastha. Hastinapur as mentioned in Mahabharata Epic is Pandav Brothers Kingdom which is in Meerut, India, and Indraprastha is the City of Lord Indra. He also created the figurines of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Goddess Subhadra at Jagannath Temple in Odisha, India.

The vehicles are also worshipped on this day. Red and white cotton clothes are offered to machinery and vehicles. In Nepal, people alternatively celebrate Bishwakarma Puja to vehicle and tools on Maha Navami, the ninth day of Dashain.

A truck is washed and decked with paper or flower garland then they are worshipped on the occasion of Biswakarma Jayanti. He is an Architect God hence, Bishwakarma's birthday is a very important day for Engineers, Architects, Weavers, Craftsmen, Mechanics, Smiths, Welders, and Industrial and Factory Workers. Photo by Nikki Thapa