BJP announces 'Vedic Yagya' outside Red Fort in March

A "mega event" will be held in March in the national Capital that will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind in attendance, along with other political bigwigs. This was announced by BJP MP Maheish Girri on Monday.

Aimed to blunt "conspiracies" hatched by "inimical forces" in the country, the week-long 'Vedic Yagya' will be hosted at the sprawling lawns outside the Red Fort from March 18-25, Girri informed on Monday.

Girri, who will be at the helm of handling the event, claimed to have roped in more than 1,100 priests. The BJP leader also asserted that a number of Delhi-based businessmen have come forward "to fund the Hindu ritual," which entails "worshiping the Vedas and the nation in the same breath".

Sharing the blueprint of the 'Rashtriya Raksha Mahayagya' in a press conference here, Girri said, "Oblation will be offered to gods by around 1,100 priests through 108 ceremonial fires. The ghee to be used in the ritual will be sourced from people across the country through 'rath yatras'. We urge everyone to offer at least one spoonful of ghee," he said.

A temporary Vedic village will be set up in the area, where the annual Ram Lila is held every year, for this purpose.

Other highlights of the event are performances by singers, including Shankar Mahadevan and Kailash Kher, who according to Girri are preparing a "theme song". "It will be attended by prominent political leaders, religious gurus, bureaucrats, Bollywood celebrities and corporate honchos," the East Delhi MP said, refusing to divulge the names of those who have confirmed their participation.

"Eight vows, to rid the nation of vices like casteism, communalism, among others, will also be taken by the participants," he added.