Today the entire country speaks of Dengue and the number of resultant deaths. We seem to have forgotten what our ancestors did to keep these pests away from our homes. The simple, but effective remedy, was to burn scented "Kattakumanjal, Sambarani" powder on a ‘Dun Kabala’ and fumigate the whole house, rooms, under beds, tables, etc. This was done purely as a holy ritual to keep the homes clean as they believed devas visit and bless those houses which are clean and sweet scented - oblivious to the fact that this also kept away mosquitoes. The ‘Dun Kabala’ and the scented incense sticks are kept near the statue of Lord Buddha, and burns late into the night. No wonder our ancestors lived a healthy life and had sound sleep to start work fresh the next day.

In some village homes, they hang branches and leaves of the ‘Madurutala’ bush, which also keeps away mosquitoes.

This practice is not followed in urban and city homes as charcoal is not available due to the use of gas for cooking.

Can anyone suggest a method of burning ‘Kattakumanjal - Sambarani" in an electric ‘Dun Kabala’ to give the same effect of sending out smoke, so that the affluent and the wealthy may use them?