HJS demands to govt. for stopping of malpractices during traditional burning of narkasur effigies

Ashwin Krushna Ashtami, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

Panaji (Goa): Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has forwarded a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Mr. Digambar Kamat requesting him to take appropriate action to stop the malpractices following the traditional burning of narkasur effigies thereby celebrating Deepawali in an ideal manner as described in the scriptures. This memorandum has been forwarded to the Collectors of North and South Goa district also.

The memorandum has described the importance and an ideal way of celebrating Deepawali as per the scriptures as follows. There is a story given in the Puran (scripture) stating that there was a demon king by name bhoumasur or narkasur who was very cruel to his subject. He was even harassing the women very badly. He had captured sixteen thousand princesses and kept them in a prison. Lord Krushna along with Satyabhama attacked narkasur and killed him, thus releasing those sixteen thousand princesses from the prison. narkasur asked for a boon before dying that the one would take bath early in the morning on that day as per the Lunar calendar would never suffer in hell and was granted by Lord Krushna. That is why the day is known as Narakchaturdashi and people take bath very early morning before the sunrise.

To stop the untimely death (upmrutyu) ritual of ‘Yamtarpan’ that is mentioned in the Hindu Almanac has to be performed. Later the mother waves a lamp around her children. Some people crush a bitter fruit called Karit symbolising the slaying of narkasur with toes and taste its juice (blood) dipping a finger in it.

Recently a tradition of burning effigies of narkasur symbolising the killing of narkasur by Lord Krushna, is being followed in Goa and Sindhudurg. In this tradition narkasur is being glorified rather than Srikrushna. Srikrushna plays no role in the celebration which is not correct. Besides this malpractices occurs in this tradition are accidents taking place due to touching of large effigies of narkasur to the live electric wires on the road, sound pollution due to late night competitions, extortion of money, narkasur effigies brought on road to extort money from vehicle drivers thereby creating accidents. Due to this tradition normally youth stay awake for the whole night in order to burn the effigies and sleep when it is time for the auspicious bath, thus missing it. People cannot enjoy the festival fully due to such malpractices. HJS along with like minded organisations is trying to create awaressness to stop the malpractices occurring during traditional burning of narkasur effigies during Deepawali for the last seven years. HJS is conducing this awareness campaign in a democratic way by forwarding memorandums to the Government, making publicity in this regard, conducting meetings with organising committees of narkasur effigy competition to create awareness among them regarding the ill effects of the malpractices occurring thereof.