Coimbatore, Oct 19, 2026 16:44 IST: A video capturing an artificial intelligence-powered humanoid robot lighting camphor and offering incense to a deity has drawn widespread attention during Ayudha Puja celebrations in Tamil Nadu.
The event, which took place at a robotics company located in RS Puram, brought together age-old religious traditions and modern technological innovation in a single ceremony.
Ayudha Puja is traditionally observed by people worshipping the tools, machinery, and vehicles that they rely upon for their daily livelihoods and professions. In Coimbatore, however, the machines being honored also became active participants in the rituals.
The celebration featured machines developed by MIRAKILE, which included an educational information robot alongside another model designed to raise awareness. Instead of staying on the sidelines as passive objects of worship, the robots stepped in to take an active role in conducting the ceremony.
The main highlight of the gathering was a humanoid robot that executed religious rituals typically carried out by humans. The machine successfully lit camphor and offered incense to the deity, giving a distinctly futuristic twist to the familiar customs associated with the festival.
The festivities also involved worshipping the spare parts of the robots. This practice extended the traditional custom of honoring the instruments of one's trade to encompass machines driven by artificial intelligence and advanced robotics.
The sight of a robot engaging in aarti provided a unique combination of traditional practices and modern technological progress, highlighting how advanced systems are increasingly expanding beyond industrial spaces into broader applications.