UP: 500 Quintals of Mango Wood Being Burnt In Mahayagna To “Purify Air”

Shri Ayutchandi Mahayagna Samiti in Meerut has organised a nine day long “Mahayagna” where 500 quintals of mango wood will be burnt for the “hawan” in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. This “mahayagna” is organised with an aim to reduce pollution.

9 days long Mahayagna to “purify” air

The Mahayagna which started on March 18, will continue till March 26. The organisers of the mahayagna believe that burning of mango wood will purify the air and this, in turn, will reduce the pollution.

For this event, about 350 priests from Haridwar and Varanasi are brought down to Meerut. For the event which will be held at the Bhainsali grounds in Meerut, a 125X125 square feet yagnashala (where priests sit to perform rituals) has been prepared. About 108 “hawan kund” have been arranged for this mahayagna to which about 1 crore “ahuti” (oblation) will be made.

While speaking to The Times Of India, Girish Bansal, vice president of the Samiti said, “In Hinduism, it is believed that yagna leads to purification and removal of pollution. Mango wood burnt after pouring ghee made from cow milk helps in reducing pollution. There is no scientific evidence to it yet because no research has been done so far.”

Bansal said that this event, which is completely sponsored by the public, will use only old discarded trees.

Pollution Control Board helpless

Stating absence of policy under which this issue can be dealt with, R K Tyagi, regional officer of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) told The Times Of India, “Burning of wood leads to pollution. But there is no policy under which a probe can be issued in the matter – so there is little that we can do.”

This event has also invited dissent of the environmental activists. Vikrant Tongad, an environmental activist based out of Uttar Pradesh told InUth, “I agree that in our scriptures, it has been mentioned that hawans purify the environment. But all that happened ages ago. The situation is now completely different because of the rampant deforestation, industrialisation and population growth. It is in no way feasible today.”

He also added, “Only dried wood should be used for hawans. But I sincerely doubt if it is practically possible for them to collect 500 quintals, which ultimately means that they’ll have to use the wood meant for other purposes.”

He also said that there is no provision under the existing law, where this can be questioned, ”There is no provision under the law through which hawans can be stopped. Even the National Green Tribunal hasn’t addressed this issue ever.”

At a time when the whole country is struggling with the increasing level of pollution, this will only add to existing woes. The organisers justifying this without any scientific backing is plain bizarre. The Logical Indian believes that such activity has a potential to promote and further contribute to the already existing pollution and ecological damage.