Cow dung products for Holi rituals at Tatanagar Gaushala

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Jamshedpur: Shri Tatanagar Gaushala will provide products used for Holika rituals akin to Rajasthani customs. These products, made of cow dung, include small and large round objects called Badkulla, Chaand, Suraj, Dhal, Jeebh, Panpatta, Coconut, Kukdi, Chakla, Belan, Kadhai, Comb and other ritualistic paraphernalia.

Gau Kasht or wooden replicas made with cow dung are already in use at funerals at Shiv Ghat in Jugsalai. An official of the Gaushala informed that daily 12.50 quintals of Gau Kasht are being made. He said that use of Gau Kasht ensures a cleaner environment as against the pollution caused by wood burning.

The cow dung products are being managed by women. Packets for the Holika rituals comprising traditional cow dung products in packets containing Badkulla-100 pieces, Chaand- 1 pc, Suraj- 1 pc, two types of Dhals- 9 pcs, 9 (5+4), Jeebh- 1 pc, Panpatta- 1 pc, Coconut- 1 pc, Holi-Holika- 1 pc each, Supari- 1 pc, Kukdi- 1 pc, Chakla- 1 pc, Belan- 1 pc, Kadhai- 1 pc and Comb- 1 pc, have been priced at Rs 200 each.

Addressing a press conference at the Tatanagar Gaushala premises, general secretary Mahesh Goyal said that in its 100 years� history, this was for the second time that cow dung products for Holika rituals were being manufactured here. Last year, 300 families purchased these products. He said that if any family required more Badkullas, they would be provided at Re 1 per piece and coconuts at Rs 10 per piece.

Goyal informed that these cow dung products could be had on a first come �first served basis. Orders may be placed with Gaushala officials Sanjiv Jha (mobile phone no 8271651290) and Amar Sharma (mobile no 9835596569). He appealed to the general public to burn Holika effigies with Gaushala manufactured cow dung large Kandes. He mentioned, �1.50 tons of Kandes will be sufficient to burn one Holika whereas three tons of wood would be required for the same purpose. Burning Holika with Kandes will prevent air pollution.�

The price of large cow dung Kandes is Rs 12 per kilo. This year 3, 000 families are expected to be provided the cow dung made ritualistic utilities.
Among those present at the press meet were Kailash Saraiwala, Vimal Murarka, Suresh Naredi, Rajesh Harnathka, Kusum Nagelia, Sujata Goyal, Rinku Singhania, Rama Sharma, Mina Saraiwala, Nisha Sharma, Bina Khirwal and Asha Agrawal.