Surat, March 20 - With a growing awareness of environmental conservation, residents are celebrating festivals in an eco-friendly manner, including the upcoming Holi festival, by incorporating environmental protection into their traditions. Surat is witnessing a surge in demand for cow dung cakes, known as Vedic Holi Dahan, for the Holika Dahan ritual.

This year, more than a thousand places in Surat are set to light Vedic Holi fires, with an advance booking of 80 tonnes (80,000 kg) of cow dung cakes. The cow dung sticks, known as cow wood, are machine-made at Panjrapole in Surat, using cow dung and waste fodder. The use of cow dung cakes instead of wood not only reduces costs but also prevents the cutting of trees, which is typically associated with the traditional use of wood for Holika Dahan.

Atulbhai Vora, General Manager of Panjrapole, stated that they have been producing cow dung cakes for the past three years, with production increasing from 35 to 40 tonnes in the first year to over 80 tonnes this year. The rise in demand for cow dung cakes is attributed to the growing environmental consciousness among the public.

Apart from the environmental benefits, burning cow dung cakes during Vedic Holi is believed to purify the air and eliminate viruses present in the environment. Priced at Rs 25 per kg, cow dung sticks are a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to wood, offering a way to save trees and support the welfare of cows at Panjrapole.