Why Bamboo Agarbattis Should Not Be Used For Puja?

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Incense sticks are of paramount importance in the worship procedures. A special ritual called Dhooparati is done using dhoop sticks or incense sticks. In fact, it is a part of the shodashopachara puja done to any God. The dhooparati was meant to be a ritual as well as a method to keep mosquitoes and insects at bay.

There used to be something called sambrani during earlier times, which was used for lactating new mothers for drying up their hair as well as for cleansing the environment.

Then as time passed incense sticks have taken new shape, form, fragrance etc. The use of aroma has led to the discovery of aromatic oils that are used for therapy.

It is the age of room freshners and perfumed candles and even camphor are finding use as room diffusers which produce aroma that lingers on for hours.

But somehow the devout mind within us refuses to accept anything beyond the mystical agarbattis that kindle a sense of nostalgia when they are lit.

Scientific Point Of View: Most of the agarbattis are made of wood powder, saw dust, charcoal powder, fragrance, adhesive and bamboo stick. The last in the list, the bamboo stick is the unacceptable ingredient which has been rejected for use in many countries not without reason.

Bamboo has accumulated lead, cadmium and mercury which produce harmful oxides when burnt. Bamboo also is known to contain carcinogens like PAH.

As per a Toxicology report, burning dhoop inside a not well-ventilated room can release many chemical carcinogens like formaldehyde, benzene, Polycyclic chronic respiratory illnesses.

Bronchial tubes could get inflamed which can result in COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease). Excessive fumes can cause migraine and amnesia. So we should see that bamboo agarbattis should not be used.

Loss of Luck and Destruction Of lineage: Burning the bamboo agarbattis destroys luck and family lineage. In fact, this is treated as a harbinger of luck that helps in uplifting the lineage. This is exactly the reason why it should not be burnt. You could use sandal wood agarbattis.

Bamboo Aartis: Bamboo is used to perform Aarti. But Bamboo is not used even in the cremation ceremonies to burn corpses. So why burn it during Puja? Hence burning bamboo is not treated as auspicious.

Bamboo is Auspicious: Bamboo is used for auspicious occasions like marriage, and mundane ceremonies where bamboo is made use of in decorative arrangements. It is used for a good purpose and hence it should not be burnt during puja.