NEW DELHI, March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Call to Society to acquire good health and conserve water by Celebrating Vedic Holi, by H.H Asaram ji Bapu
Holi is the festival of colours to celebrate the victory of good over evil. In the core, this festival is one which gives happiness along with good health. But today, the whole concept of celebrating Holi has become restricted to having meaningless fun, indulging in brash, anti-social activities and using extremely harmful chemical colours.
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H.H Sant Shri Asaram ji Bapu has spearheaded the campaign to spread awareness among people across the nation about the ill effects of playing Holi with chemical colours. Not only this, during his religious discourses Bapuji has also promoted an excellent alternative in the form of playing Vedic Holi with natural colours.
Importance and Benefits of Vedic Holi
The use of chemical colours not only wastes a lot of water to wash away chemical pigments, but doctors suggest that it causes severe ailments too.
The harmful effects of chemical colours
Colour Chemicals Effect
Black Lead Oxide Kidney Disease, Mental Disability
Green Copper Sulphate Irritation and swelling in eyes; temporary blindness
Silver Aluminium Bromide Cancer
Blue Prussian Blue Dreadful skin disease "Contact Dermatitis "
Red Mercury Sulphide Skin cancer
Purple Chromium Iodide Asthma, allergy
In his discourses, Bapuji has repeatedly focused on celebrating Holi in the traditional way by using colours made from natural herbs like Palash and Marigold petals, which provide resistance to diseases and enhance capacity to withstand summer heat. The usage of water is as minimal as 30ml to 60ml per person in the collective Holi celebrations conducted by Bapuji with thousands of his followers at a time. More importantly, it is time to refocus on the rich Indian culture during such celebrations, and Bapuji has taken great initiatives towards this.
Vedic Holi Celebrations
Bapuji says in his pious message on the occasion of Holi: "The festival of Holi is an occasion to awaken your hidden nature of Self-Bliss through mirth and jest. Let bygones be bygones. What has happened has happened. Have no attachment and hatred therefore. Don't fear the future. Don't be obsessed with anything, have no fixations. Like Prahlad, make your heart full of love and joy."
Inspired by Pujya Shree, millions celebrate Vedic Holi with their friends and family across the nation. For several years, under the holy guidance of Pujya Shree, many in Gujarat and even from other states throng the ashram in Surat along the banks of the Tapi river to take part in the Vedic Holi celebrations apart from several other cities spread across the nation.
Not content with having just disciples benefit the Vedic Holi, under Pujya Shree's guidance, volunteers strive to propagate effective techniques of making colours at home, so that society is saved from the harmful effects of chemical colours.
Bright saffron colour: 1) Soak Palash flowers in water overnight and boil them in the morning. 2) Mix a pinch of sandalwood powder in one litre of water.
Ayurveda has taken into account the significance of 'Palash' (Butea frondosa) flowers. Its use helps in eradicating disorders of Kapha and Pitta humours, leprosy, fever, strangury, flatulence and blood disorders. This natural saffron colour increases the blood circulation. It not only keeps our muscles strong and robust but also helps in enhancing our willpower and mental faculties.
Yellow gulal: 1) Four spoonfuls of besan (gram flour) added to two spoonfuls of turmeric makes dry yellow colour. 2) Powder of dry yellow flowers of Amaltaas (the Indian Laburnum Cassia fistula) and Marigold overnight in water and boil the same in the morning to get liquid yellow colour.
Liquid yellow colour: 1) Two spoonfuls of turmeric powder boiled in two litre water makes very good yellow colour. 2) Soak yellow flowers of Amaltaas (the Indian Laburnum Cassia fistula) and Marigold overnight in water and boil the same in the morning to get liquid yellow colour.
Purple colour: The beetroot boiled in water makes good purple colour.
Black colour: Amla powder soaked overnight in an iron utensil gives good black colour.
Red colour: 1) Mix two teaspoonfuls turmeric powder and a pinch of limestone powder in half a cup of water and mix it with ten litres of water. 2) 2 spoonfuls red sandal powder boiled in one litre water gives beautiful red colour.
Red Gulal: Use powder of dry red Gudhal (shoe-flower).
Green colour: 1) Make a paste of leaves of spinach, coriander and mint and mix it with water. 2) Grind wheat grass.
Green gulal: Grind dried leaves of gulmohar (flamboyant) and raat ki raani (tuberose)
Brown green gulal: Mix menhdi powder with Amla powder.
All-round Contribution of Pujya Shree to the society
India is a land that has given birth to prodigious gems and one of them is our kindhearted Saint H.H Asaram Ji Bapu, who has dedicated his life completely to the well-being of society. His contributions towards society are immense, ranging from rural development, child empowerment, free meditation camps, health care/mobile medical facilities, disaster relief amd special Youth Programs to Women's empowerment programs.
One of the recently celebrated events was the "Matru Pitru Pujan Divas" (Parents Worship Day), which has gained a lot of popularity both in India as well as abroad. On this occasion, Bapuji successfully led the entire nation with his philosophy of worshipping parents on 14th February every year and spread the fragrance of true love and righteousness. Since its conception, 'Parents Worship Day' has received immense support from celebrities, politicians and several eminent personalities who have joined Pujya Bapuji in his mission to appeal to all to celebrate the festival. In response to that, several states and their administrations have joined hands and made the mission a success.
Pujya Shree's Contribution towards Nation Building
Here are some of the links where you can read about many priceless contributions made by Bapuji in the last 40 years.
Rural Development: http://www.ashram.org/AboutAshram/SevaActivities/RuralDevelopment.aspx
Sewa Images: http://www.ashram.org/AboutAshram/SevaActivities/SewaImages.aspx
Child Empowerment: http://www.ashram.org/AboutAshram/SevaActivities/ChildrenEmpowerment.aspx
Disaster Relief: http://www.ashram.org/AboutAshram/SevaActivities/DisasterRelief.aspx
Parents Worship Day Celebrations: http://www.mppd.ashram.org/Gallery.aspx
Instilling rich culture and values in children through more than 18,000 Balsanskar centres run cost-free across the world: http://www.bsk.ashram.org
Contact: Ashish Gaba +91-96633-95275
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