CM leads push for gau-kasht, calls for green Holika Dahan

Bhopal: While extending his greetings to fellow residents ahead of the festival of colours, Chief minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday called on them to use cow-dung logs (gau-kasth) instead of wood, urging an environment-friendly Holika Dahan.A day earlier, the govt issued directions to all district administrations to promote the use of cow-dung logs instead of wood, in the larger interest of preventing the indiscriminate axing of trees. The govt stated in the advisory that the Holi celebrations this year should send out the larger message of environmental protection and social harmony. As per the directions issued by the state, efforts are to be made through public cooperation and community participation to promote the use of cow-dung logs in place of wood for Holika Dahan. The govt also called for people to be encouraged to celebrate the festival with natural and herbal colours, conserve water, and refrain from applying colours to animals and birds.Free registration of public Holika Dahan events are to be conducted at district headquarters, tehsil, urban local body, and panchayat levels. During registration, brief details of the organising committees or bodies, along with the names and contact information of office bearers, are to be noted down.The govt further called for extensive publicity to be undertaken at the district level to motivate residents to adopt gau-kasth for celebrating Holika Dahan. Urban local bodies and panchayati raj institutions need to be actively involved in the campaign, the govt said, adding that on the day of Holika Dahan, field officials will inspect public events and encourage the use of cow-dung logs instead of wood. Events marking Holika Dahan by only using gau-kasth will be certified by the authorities concerned, and reports on such events shall be submitted to district collectors, who, in turn, will log them in official records.Thereafter, district-level ceremonies will be organised at all district headquarters where the organisers of such events will be feted. Organisations and office-bearers conducting exemplary cow-dung log–based Holika Dahan will be honoured with commendation certificates on behalf of the CM. Such institutions will also be given priority for future encouragement and support, the govt stated.The govt has also directed all collectors to ensure effective implementation of the ‘Clean and Healthy Holi' campaign, while divisional commissioners will oversee all related activities.