News Report
ALLAHABAD, INDIA, February 2, 2004: The world’s biggest Mahayagna with 100,008 yagna kunds (fire altars) will be held at Sangam (the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna Rivers, where the Kumbha Mela is held) from January 26 to February 6. The religious event would attract as many as 100 top politicians and ministers from different political outfits and States besides delegates from foreign countries. The occasion would be Laksh Astottar (100,008) Kundiya Shri Seetaram Mahayagna organized by Swami Anjani Nandan Das Mission near Triveni Sangam from Basant Panchami (January 26) to Maghi Purnima (February 6) in 2004. During the 12-day program nearly one million devotees, followers and people will participate. Along with the Nepal king and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, ministers and representatives from Mauritius, Indonesia, Thailand and other countries are also likely to participate, said Rastriya Sant Shri 1008 Swami Anjani Nanda Dasji on Saturday.
The preparation for the Mahayagna is in full swing. Ten tractors were leveling the ground near railway bridge, New Jhunsi, in the mela area. Nearly 100 houses at New Jhunsi and scores of houses at Bharadwajpuram (Allahpur) would be voluntarily provided by the people to accommodate the delegates, he said and added that Sant Gram was being constructed to house the saints, belonging to different sects, who will be arriving in January.
To be used in the ceremonies:
2.5 million bricks for construction of the fire altars
10,000 tons wood of mango, sycamore, peepal, banyan, pakar tree for burning
250.000 kilos material required for the fires
50 tons ghee, 2,500 kilos camphor, 12 tons yellow rice
5,000 kilos “ilayachi-dana”
125,000 packets incense sticks
201,000 pots
one million betel nuts
1.5 million coconuts