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, dpa reported.
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.