3L diyas to light up Kurukshetra on December 25

Tribune News Service
Kurukshetra, December 22

In a first, around 3 lakh diyas will be lit at Brahma Sarovar, Sannihit Sarovar and Jyotisar Tirtha as part of Deepotsav, which will be celebrated on the last day of the International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra on December 25.

More than 30 organisations will come together to light up the diyas and the entire expense will be borne by the organisations. An official of the Kurukshetra Development Board said: “Initially, the board had planned to get 1.80 lakh diyas lit at Brahma Sarovar through different organizations, but now after seeing the response, the administration and the board is expecting nearly 3 lakh diyas on the three sites.”

On the adverse effect of the huge quantity of diyas on environment and consumption of oil, he said: “Since the diyas are to be lit by different organisations, we have not quantified the oil to be consumed during the event. It is unlikely to affect the environment as the diyas will be lit in a vast area spread across several kilometres.”

Vijay Narula, member, Jio Gita Sansthan, said: “We will light up around 11,000 diyas at Brahma Sarovar and I don’t think that there will be any adverse effect on the air quality due to diyas.” Nitin Mehta, Regional Officer, state pollution control board, said: “I can’t comment on how much impact it will have on the air quality or pollution level at present. The damage, if any, will be known only after the event.”

DC Sharandeep Kaur said: “The administration has tried to make the mahotsav a people’s festival this year. The social and religious organisations have contributed in multiple ways. The diyas will be lit in a vast area of six to seven km, and it will be a symbolic event only. Directions have been issued to use minimum oil and we will make sure that no pollution is caused.”

G Anumpama, nodal officer for Gita Mahotsav, said: “The celebration of the mahotsav is not limited to the events being organised by KDB alone and includes various events being organised by institutions across Haryana. While the social media cell is being handled by students from Kurukshetra University’s Mass Communication Department, a special team comprising teachers, archaeologists and experts came together to create content on Gita and Kurukshetra.”