Hindu Group in UP Burns 500 qs of Mango Wood to ‘Reduce Pollution’

The UP Pollution Control Board has opted to stay out of the matter, as it is “related to a particular religion”.

In a rather strange event, a Hindu body comprising nearly 350 brahmins from Varanasi met at Meerut on Sunday morning, to begin a nine-day-long special ceremony that they are calling a ‘mahayagya’, where they will burn 500 quintals of mango wood, in an attempt to “reduce pollution”.

As reported by The Times of India (TOI), the event is being organized by members of the Shri Ayutchandi Mahayagya Samiti, which will provide for 108 fire-puts (hawan kunds), that are made in a 125x125 square feet yagyashala (a space where priests sit to perform rituals).

The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, though stating their concern about the pollution this event is likely to cause, has opted to stay out of it, because “it is related to a particular religion”, the report adds.

Speaking to TOI, R K Tyagi, regional officer of UPPCB in Meerut said:

Burning such large quantities of wood will definitely cause pollution. But there is no policy under which a probe can be issued in this matter -- so there is little that we can do. It will also be inappropriate for me to comment on the event.

R K Tyagi told TOI

Girish Bansal, vice president, Shri Ayutchandi Mahayagya Samiti, is however of the opinion that since the fire-wood will be burnt only after pouring ghee made of cow milk in all the fire-pits, it runs no risk of polluting the environment.

“In Hinduism, it is believed that yagya leads to purification of air. There is no scientific evidence to it because no research has been done so far. City residents will see purer air once the yagya is complete,” he told TOI.

The members of the religious body further believe that the ritual will only be “complete” once a crore offerings are made in the fire-pits, the report adds.

They have even reportedly taken out and shared pamphlets among volunteers, asking them to contribute to the ritual with materials like rice, sesame seeds and more. This, according to Gyanendra Agarwal, president of the Samiti, is to “aide the purification process”.

Mango wood burnt after pouring pure ghee does not cause pollution. According to a scientific report, the Ozone layer above our country is the least damaged because of frequent yagyas.

Gyanendra Agarwal, president of the Samiti to TOI

(With inputs from Times of India)