Machines and vehicles were worshipped as Jharkhand celebrated Vishwakarma Puja on September 17.
Ceremonies took place at HEC, Mecon, garages and workshops in Ranchi.
Government departments including the railways and electricity board also held worship.
Pandals with deity installations hosted collective ceremonies at institutions.
A police-guarded seven-day fair began in Bokaro.
A mini control room has been set up at the Bokaro fair to deal with any emergencies.
Markets in towns such as Khunti and Koderma saw extra footfall in the days before the puja, as workshops and showrooms prepared.
The festival is widely observed in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and several other states, particularly by artisans and industrial workers.
A rain alert had been issued for parts of Jharkhand around the festival, though celebrations went ahead across the state.
The Sri Jagatguru Vishwakarma Temple in Ranchi, said to be a centre of faith since 1930, made special preparations for the day.
Many workplaces traditionally pause work on the day and leave machines idle, treating the break itself as part of the worship of Lord Vishwakarma.
Vishwakarma Puja was observed on September 17, 2026, which is also known as Vishwakarma Jayanti.
Lord Vishwakarma is worshipped as the divine architect and the patron of craftspeople, engineers and industrial workers.
In Ranchi, machines were worshipped at the HEC and Mecon plants, as well as at garages, workshops and vehicle showrooms.
Government departments including the electricity board and the railways, along with the Hatia yard, also held worship ceremonies.
Vehicles and machinery were cleaned before formal worship, and workers prayed for success in their work and for prosperity.
Pandals were set up at various institutions, with deity installations and collective ceremonies.
In Bokaro, a Vishwakarma Puja was organised at Jhopdi Colony in the Marafari police station area, accompanied by a seven-day fair.
Vishwakarma Puja celebration, Duliajan, Assam, 2024 (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
