Other States - Uttar Pradesh   

Hi-tech `Holika Dahan' to check pollution

LUCKNOW, MARCH 5. Hazards of pollution and deforestation have driven a group of enterprising samaritans in the Uttar Pradesh capital to devise a unique way of observing the ritual of `Holika Dahan' tomorrow on the eve of Holi.

The Samar Vihar locality here is in limelight these days as several people are thronging a small park where residents have come up with a perfect example of synchronising tradition with the needs of a modern society.

``Instead of burning precious wood, we have set-up a 10-foot Plaster of Paris statue of Holika with Prahalad in her arms. We will not set it afire using wood, but make use of a lighting arrangement to depict the burning scene,'' said Manmohan Sharma, the brain behind the event.

Focussing a variety of lights placed at different angles, Sharma and his neighbours have created a visual effect which looks like an actual fire. Flames could be seen lapping up Holika and Prahlad.

Interestingly, children quipped they could understand the legend much better this way, although the still smaller lot were a little scared. ``We use electricity, but save on the precious wood and check pollution,'' added Sharma, who is also a photographer.

However, for people who insist on burning Holika as part of the traditon, provision of small 'kund' (pots) had also been made.

Nearby residents have been requested to burn only old wood extracted from used furniture and not to buy wood from the market.

The event had been on since Tuesday and the residents were upbeat that the maximum number of people would throng the site tomorrow evening as per the ritual of lighting Holika.

`Holika Dahan' is observed on the eve of Dhulendi (Holi) to mark the death of evil. Holika was the aunt of Prahalad. She was asked by her brother and Prahlad's father Hiranyakashyap to eliminate the boy after he refused to acknowledge his father as a God in place of Lord Vishnu.

As, Holika was blessed that fire could not kill her, she sat on a pyre with Prahlad on her lap. But by the grace of God, Prahlad survived unscatched and Holika was reduced to ashes. - UNI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• SP decides to contest 250 Lok Sabha seats
• Hi-tech `Holika Dahan' to check pollution

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu