Shun crackers with God’s images, VHP urges people

After pollution and noise issues, comes another hurdle to bursting crackers.

Just a day before Deepavali, the Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP) on Monday urged people not to burst crackers that have pictures of gods and goddesses on them. In an appeal, a prelude to its forthcoming legal battle against cracker manufacturing companies, VHP urged people to not to use such fireworks.

Addressing reporters here, Shashikanth Sharma, spokesperson, VHP, Bengaluru, said they had been planning a major legal battle against cracker manufacturing units over misuse of images of Hindu gods and goddesses.

“We have been opposing misuse of our gods and goddesses everywhere. In the name of bursting crackers, crores of crackers with images of gods and goddesses are burst all over, hurting religious sentiments of the people,” Sharma said.

He said the festival is celebrated offering puja to the Goddess Lakshmi, but crackers that are burnt have pictures of the same goddesses.

Asked whether it was not too late for the organisation to appeal to the people to shun use of such crackers, Sharma said, “The festival starts on Tuesday and we are cautioning people against the trend.” The VHP has said that images of Lakshmi in Lakshmi Pataki and Vishnu in Sudarshan Chakra pataka are grossly misused.

He said the VHP, across North India and elsewhere in the country, had been spreading awareness against use of crackers with photos of gods and goddesses.

“We have been listing the names of cracker manufacturing companies that use images of gods and goddesses. We have already spoken to
our legal advisors. In a few days after Deepavali, we will file PIL before both the High Court and Supreme Court,” he said.