Seven-day 'Rashtriya Raksha Mahayagya' begins at Red Fort grounds

A seven-day "Rashtriya Raksha Mahayagya", organised by BJP MP Maheish Girri, today begun at the Red Fort grounds here, where the structures for the 108 ceremonial fires have been made using the soil of four border areas -- Doklam, Wagah, Poonch and Siachen.

The soil and water from Char Dham (four Hindu pilgrimage sites) have also been used to make fire vessels for performing the "mahayagya".

A temporary "Vedic village" has been set up, where over 1,100 priests are performing the "yagya".

"This mahayagya should not be viewed from political aspects, it is purely a religious activity for the safety, security and prosperity of the nation. It aims at ensuring people's welfare and making our country strong, proud, self-reliant and prosperous," Girri told reporters.

The "yagya" would dispel the forces, both outside and inside the country, that did not want it to progress and prosper, he said.

Girri added that all the prominent political leaders, religious gurus and other renowned personalities of the society were invited to the event.

Last month, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had flagged off the "Rashtriya Raksha Mahayagya Rath Yatra" to collect soil and water from the four different border areas and the same number of pilgrimage sites.