South Asia News

Nov 23, 2008, 7:44 GMT

Ancient fire ceremony in Indian village to tackle global recession

New Delhi - A two-year long yagna, an ancient Hindu fire ritual, is being held in a village in India's western Gujarat state to save the world from the economic downturn, news reports said Sunday. The yagna, which involves groups of priests reciting ancient religious verses and pouring oblations in a ceremonial fire, is being held at Ramsana village in Mehsana district of Gujarat, PTI news agency reported. The ritual entered its 16th day and will continue uninterrupted for two years, the organizer of the event, Dahyabhai Patel, convenor of a religious trust, was quoted as saying. He said at least 3,000 priests from from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh states would take part in the ritual which involved 109 havan kunds or ceremonial fires. The ritual seeks divine blessings to relieve the world of the economic crisis that seems to have no end in sight, Patel said. 'We are asking for divine solace to restore prosperity, environmental well-being and overall world peace and happiness.' Patel estimated the two-year event would cost 1.5 billion rupees (about 30 million dollars). People from surrounding villages were pouring in to witness the ceremonies, Patel added. He said the event was being funded by various religious groups, trusts and villagers.

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