New Delhi: Will more smoke – albeit of the holy variety – help curb Delhi’s hazardous level of air pollution?

Well, so thinks, Mahamandaliya Sri Sri 1008 Anant Vibhushit Avdhoot Baba Arunagiri Maharaj a.k.a ‘Environment Baba’ who is set to enter the national capital in his automated chariot as part of a campaign from Vaishno Devi to Kanyakumari.

In his effort, he is assisted by Indresh Kumar, RSS leader and head of its minority outreach efforts.

RSS leader Indaresh Kumar at Vaishno Devi Yatra and Yagya (Picture courtesy: News18)

The monk from Rishikesh told News18 that a generous dose of medicinal herbs grown in Himalayas thrown into a "yagya" fire is what Delhi needs to control particulate matter.

"Through the 'Yagya', the 'Parmatma' gets his fill and keeps the environment clean. It keeps all the 33 crores gods happy.

Other countries have also shown faith in this old practice: Japan had a 'Yagya' to control earthquake. It can also treat ailments like chikungunya. It has been proven scientifically that "jadi-bootis" sourced from Himalayas can kill pollutants," he said.

Indresh Kumar is in Chandigarh and will not be able to attend Environment Baba’s first Yagya day in Delhi but has extended all support to his mission.

"The demon of pollution is here upon us and we have to fight it through various ways from planting trees to conducting Yagya. If we add cow urine and jadibooti in chemical water we can see how these two elements kill the pollutants," Kumar told News18.

The Yagya Harit Padyatra started from Vaishno Devi and will culminate in Kanyakumari covering 4,500 km. Kumar said he joined this movement only after due experiments.

Arungiri Maharaj will be seen in Delhi streets soon with his mobile rath reminding people that solution to the modern problem lies in tradition.

"We have a truck to make sure Yagya happens throughout the day. We don’t accept any funding from any business man. Whatever we have has come from the God and devotees who make contributions to our kitchen," he said.