New Swift Vxi - puja at showroom!

kkdelhi · 30th June 2007, 00:26

Bought a new Swift Vxi some time back. On the day of the delivery, it got quite late in the evening - around 9 p.m. And, I was thinking how I would take the car to a temple at that time. But lo and behold, a panditji was right there at the showroom, hovering around my new car as I was still talking with the dealer (happened to be a friend of a friend). What more could I ask for!

Panditji did the entire puja rituals right there, even before I had set my foot on the accelerator on my way home. The sweets, the roli, moli, flowers, dhoop, just about everything was present. I felt good after the puja, satisfied with the fact that the Gods had been worshipped before the first rev of the engine.

I must admit there was no such 'facility' available the last time I bought Santro or the 800 before that. People can have 'different' preferences about performing a puja. But for people on the run, or getting late, or those wanting it at the right time at the right place, this is a good thing.

No offence meant to anyone. Any comments, or any similar experiences?

- KK.

normally_crazy · 30th June 2007, 01:07

Was it a paid service ? or Complimentary ?

kkdelhi · 30th June 2007, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Was it a paid service ? or Complimentary ?

One can call it complimentary. But, of course, one would be expected to give the 'dakshina' just as one would at the temple. But I did not have to pay for any of the 'saamagri' items.

Mayavi · 30th June 2007, 01:16

Aaaha, which other industry can provide this level of service? Taking God to the Beleiver! I hope one day I would be sitting in my office and feel like having Coffee and immediately Starbucks CEO would appear in front of me with a Coffee cup in hand.

abhibh · 30th June 2007, 01:22

When we used to buy cars from former Maruti dealer PASCO Automobiles they always used to do PUJA of our car and also used to hand over a pack of sweets

... Damn i miss Pasco Automobiles.

speedzak · 30th June 2007, 01:52

I still remember when we took delivery of my Dad's Fiat Padmini in 1983, they had a puja function for the car. I was only 3years old then and I remember the car being driven over fresh lemons etc...

I think most of the dealers in India do provide Puja services.

Deeps · 1st July 2007, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkdelhi

One can call it complimentary. But, of course, one would be expected to give the 'dakshina' just as one would at the temple. But I did not have to pay for any of the 'saamagri' items.

How much "dakshina" did the pandit ask for? Or did he just take what you gave him? I was specifically asked for 501 for my car and 251 for my bike. This was at Kalkaji temple in Delhi by the way.

kkdelhi · 1st July 2007, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deeps

How much "dakshina" did the pandit ask for?

Panditji did not ask for it. I gave him what I thought was a good amount. And, he did not say anything. He seemed like a good man.

Of course, later, I tried to calculate his total earnings of the day. If the showroom delivers even 10 cars in a day (and that is very conservative by today's standards), multiply that by just the minimum 3-figure amount and you have the Panditji earning handsomely the entire month.

But, of course, I don't hold anything against the man. What he did (or does) was a thorough job and I was satisfied.

DCEite · 1st July 2007, 22:07

Nothing uncommon especially with Maruti dealers. Most dealers have full Time Panditjis.

ajayclicks · 2nd July 2007, 21:07

Even when i took delivery from Sagar auto 2 yrs back, there was a pandit on premises. A year later they went a step ahead and even constructed a small temple on premises.

Cheers

Dippy · 2nd July 2007, 21:12

The other day I took delivery of my cousin's Swift from Sai Service Mumbai, There was no puja but they did hand over a box of sweets to us apart from the garland which they put on their own. The also broke a coconut as far I remember so I can call it a mini puja. No driving over lemons or anything.

theMAG · 2nd July 2007, 23:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Was it a paid service ? or Complimentary ?

Any expected difference in the priest's rituals between the two ?!

namit · 3rd July 2007, 00:05

Did you buy your Alto from Marketing times ? Bcoz they have this Puja service and the best part is the audio system which plays bells ringing.

Although a puja but could not take it seriously when i bought my Black Zen (not Estilo) from there in 2005 April.

Sold it off after 7 -8 mths though.

vkochar · 3rd July 2007, 07:42

Yes, this is happening at quite a lot of showrooms, Panditji comes, reads something, puts tilak on yr forehead, puts the sign on the car, breaks coconut in front of car, expects a dakshina from you, OFF YOU GO THEN !!!

I have experienced it at Honda Agra with a friend and Hyundai Gurgaon , found it pretty interesting and I am talking about over 2 yrs back so not recently.

moralfibre · 3rd July 2007, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCEite

Nothing uncommon especially with Maruti dealers. Most dealers have full Time Panditjis.

And yeah they do have a digital camera to take a picture of the entire staff you dealt with and your family with the car. Guess they provide prints too. Talk about customer service

.

OT: Guys, any noticable difference in the performance of the car after performing Puja? My mom insisted on a Puja of my car too and I got it done.

30th June 2007, 00:26	#1
kkdelhi BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 234 Thanked: 19 Times View My Garage	New Swift Vxi - puja at showroom! Bought a new Swift Vxi some time back. On the day of the delivery, it got quite late in the evening - around 9 p.m. And, I was thinking how I would take the car to a temple at that time. But lo and behold, a panditji was right there at the showroom, hovering around my new car as I was still talking with the dealer (happened to be a friend of a friend). What more could I ask for! Panditji did the entire puja rituals right there, even before I had set my foot on the accelerator on my way home. The sweets, the roli, moli, flowers, dhoop, just about everything was present. I felt good after the puja, satisfied with the fact that the Gods had been worshipped before the first rev of the engine. I must admit there was no such 'facility' available the last time I bought Santro or the 800 before that. People can have 'different' preferences about performing a puja. But for people on the run, or getting late, or those wanting it at the right time at the right place, this is a good thing. No offence meant to anyone. Any comments, or any similar experiences? - KK.
	() Thanks

30th June 2007, 01:07	#2
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,369 Thanked: 528 Times View My Garage	Was it a paid service ? or Complimentary ?
	() Thanks

30th June 2007, 01:16	#4
Mayavi BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 682 Thanked: 9 Times View My Garage	Aaaha, which other industry can provide this level of service? Taking God to the Beleiver! I hope one day I would be sitting in my office and feel like having Coffee and immediately Starbucks CEO would appear in front of me with a Coffee cup in hand.
	() Thanks

30th June 2007, 01:22	#5
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	When we used to buy cars from former Maruti dealer PASCO Automobiles they always used to do PUJA of our car and also used to hand over a pack of sweets ... Damn i miss Pasco Automobiles.
	() Thanks

30th June 2007, 01:52	#6
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,347 Thanked: 27 Times	I still remember when we took delivery of my Dad's Fiat Padmini in 1983, they had a puja function for the car. I was only 3years old then and I remember the car being driven over fresh lemons etc... I think most of the dealers in India do provide Puja services.
	() Thanks

1st July 2007, 22:07	#9
DCEite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,417 Thanked: 2,560 Times	Nothing uncommon especially with Maruti dealers. Most dealers have full Time Panditjis.
	() Thanks

2nd July 2007, 21:07	#10
ajayclicks BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 613 Thanked: 423 Times	Even when i took delivery from Sagar auto 2 yrs back, there was a pandit on premises. A year later they went a step ahead and even constructed a small temple on premises. Cheers
	() Thanks

2nd July 2007, 21:12	#11
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,561 Thanked: 2,469 Times	The other day I took delivery of my cousin's Swift from Sai Service Mumbai, There was no puja but they did hand over a box of sweets to us apart from the garland which they put on their own. The also broke a coconut as far I remember so I can call it a mini puja. No driving over lemons or anything.
	() Thanks

3rd July 2007, 00:05	#13
namit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 402 Thanked: 55 Times	Did you buy your Alto from Marketing times ? Bcoz they have this Puja service and the best part is the audio system which plays bells ringing. Although a puja but could not take it seriously when i bought my Black Zen (not Estilo) from there in 2005 April. Sold it off after 7 -8 mths though.
	() Thanks

3rd July 2007, 07:42	#14
vkochar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delhi / Agra / London Posts: 2,146 Thanked: 819 Times View My Garage	Yes, this is happening at quite a lot of showrooms, Panditji comes, reads something, puts tilak on yr forehead, puts the sign on the car, breaks coconut in front of car, expects a dakshina from you, OFF YOU GO THEN !!! I have experienced it at Honda Agra with a friend and Hyundai Gurgaon , found it pretty interesting and I am talking about over 2 yrs back so not recently.
	() Thanks