Lucknow: A Cultural Awareness Deep Yagya organized at the premises of Hanumant Dham Temple (located behind Clarks Avadh) inspired citizens to celebrate Holi in a drug-free, peaceful, and culturally rooted manner.
The event was jointly organized by Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Parivar and the Bhartiya Navvarsh Mahotsav Samiti Nyas as part of the upcoming Indian New Year celebrations. The initiative aimed to promote moral, intellectual, and social reform while encouraging the community to observe festivals in alignment with Indian cultural values.
The programme commenced with Vedic chanting and rituals, setting a spiritually uplifting atmosphere. Leaders and members of both organizations offered ceremonial oblations, praying for global peace, prosperity, and progress.
Among those who performed the rituals were Abhishek Khare, Chief Convener of Bhartiya Navvarsh Mahotsav Samiti Nyas; President Rajendra Agarwal; Vimarsh Rastogi; Atul Singh, Zonal Head of Gayatri Parivar; and Dr. Arvind Nigam. They collectively administered a pledge to the gathering, urging citizens to celebrate the festival of Holi with simplicity, harmony, and without intoxication or unruly behavior.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Convener Abhishek Khare emphasized that Holi is a sacred festival symbolizing love and unity. However, he expressed concern that in recent years, excessive drinking and disorderly conduct have altered its true spirit. “This time, we must resolve to celebrate Holi in accordance with Indian culture—without intoxication and without hooliganism—upholding the values of love, respect, and harmony,” he said.
A highlight of the event was the lighting of 5,100 earthen lamps, illuminating the entire temple premises with a divine glow. The shimmering sea of lamps created a spiritually charged ambiance, reinforcing the message of enlightenment and collective responsibility.
Devotional hymns added to the sanctity of the occasion, as participants immersed themselves in bhajans and prayers. Members of the Gayatri Parivar’s Diya Youth Wing, along with Sunil Vaishya, Gyan Kishore Srivastava, and several volunteers, actively participated in the ceremony, ensuring the programme’s success.
The Cultural Awareness Deep Yagya not only marked the approach of the Indian New Year but also served as a social call to action—encouraging citizens to restore the sanctity of festivals and celebrate Holi with sobriety, goodwill, and cultural pride.
