Sant Asaram Bapu played Holi with devotees at Reshimbagh Nagpur

Sant Asaram Bapu played Holi with devotees at Reshimbagh Ground on Tuesday. The ground witnessed huge crowd gathered to celebrate the festival with Bapu as he sprinkled colours on them. Devotees and followers danced to music and enjoyed every bit of the occasion.

On the occasion, Asaram Bapu propagated the use of natural colours, as the artificial colours available in the markets are toxic and harm people in many ways. According to their researched fact sheet on Holi, the pastes contain very toxic chemicals that can have severe health effects. Black colour consists of Lead Oxide which causes renal failure. Green Colour is made-up of Copper Sulphate which causes allergic symptoms specially to eyes, puffiness and even temporary blindness. Silver colour contains Aluminum Bromide which causes cancer while blue colour consists of Prussian Blue which leads to Contact Dermatitis. Red colour is highly toxic as it contains Mercury Sulphite which is highly toxic and can cause skin cancer. Therefore, people should avoid using artificial colours made from chemicals, Bapu said. For the special Holi celebrations, in presence of Asaram Bapu, a special colour was made with the help of Palash and Marigold flowers. The flowers were dipped in water a day before. They were boiled in the morning after adding a few drops of cooking oil. Natural colours specially prepared for Bapu were used by him. Prior to Holi, Asaram Bapu delivered a discourse. He narrated a story of Bhakta Pralhad and Holika who specially came to burn Pralhad. Holi is a festival, which takes a devotee on the path of spirituality, Bapu said. Bapu also advised his followers to recite name of God on Holi festival. This year Holi is coming on February 28. Followers should sit near God and recite the hymns from Vedas or Guru Mantra. Followers should observe fast, keep quiet and they should take milk or fruits instead of food, he said. Bapu also highlighted the importance of Mantra Deeksha. A person who receives Mantra Deeksha from his guru could get 33 types of spiritual benefits while infinite benefits in material life. Holi colours are important to get strength and improve immunity, he said. In his discourse, Bapu talked on Ayurvedic remedies. Live naturally with the nature, he said. Bapu spoke on various natural remedies for hypertension, heart problems, renal failure, joint pain, diabetes, skin problems, eye problems, gynaecological problems and many diseases which could be cured by natural remedies, he added.