India is a destination where people from different religions reside and celebrate festivals with unique customs, and that too on a grand scale. One such festival is Navratri, when devotees worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga. A unique way of worshipping the deity comes from Ranchi, Jharkhand. The Gorkha soldiers of the Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP-1) follow a 145-year-old tradition of giving a gun salute to Goddess Durga.
Gorkha Soldiers Give Gun Salute To Goddess Durga
On the occasion of Sharadiya Navratri, many devotees have their own way of worshipping Goddess Durga. Gorkha soldiers also follow a unique tradition. At the JAP campus in Ranchi, Gorkha soldiers mark the beginning of this special occasion. The highlight? Their ritual includes a ceremonial gun salute to the Goddess Durga. This is unique because it blends religious devotion with their professional identity as soldiers, reported ETV Bharat.
Navratri 2025 began on Monday, September 22, and the celebration started with Kalash Sthapana. Performing a traditional ceremony, a sacred pot was placed as a symbol of the Goddess. During the ritual, the soldiers gave a gun salute, showing their devotion to Goddess Durga. This nine-day festival also involves Gorkha women, who sit around the kalash and chant hymns.
Mahanavmi is one of the key days of Navratri. On this day, the soldiers place their weapons at the feet of Goddess Durga—a deity known for courageously and fiercely vanquishing demons— and later follow the ancient tradition of performing 101 sacrifices, which means making offerings like coconuts, flowers, and more. They conclude the day with the gun salute.
History Of This Unique Tradition
The history of this puja goes back to 1880, when it was first introduced by the Gorkha Brigade. Over the years, the Bihar Military Police performed this ritual, and after Jharkhand became a separate state, the practice still continued under the Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP-1). For the soldiers, this puja is more than just a religious ceremony. It serves as a connection to their cultural heritage and a way to honour the values of discipline.
For the soldiers who are guarding VIPS or fighting Naxals, participating in the ritual gives them confidence. As per ETV Bharat, Commandant Rakesh Ranjan claimed this ceremony as ‘living heritage’.
Have you ever heard about this tradition? Let us know in the comments section!
Cover Image Courtesy: Rawpixel & Canva Pro/ Sudip Biswas