Mahavir Jayanthi Celebrations in city

Hyderabad|India|April'2011: Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most significant festivals of Jains. It is the biggest Jain festival celebrated all over the world to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira. The Jains in Hyderabad city are to celebrate Mahavir Jayanthi, the 2610th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and the last Tirthankara, Vardhman Mahavir - the founder of Jainism here in city. Five-day celebrations from 13th to 17th April are planned on the occasion by Sri Jain Seva Sangh. Announcing this, Sri Jain Seva Sangh, the apex body of about one lakh Jain Community people in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad said that as part of the celebrations we will organsie a grand and historic procession with all grandeur and royal decoration on 16th April. The procession will start at 8:30 AM from Jain Bhavan, Pan Bazar. And it will pass through Clock Tower, M.G. Statue, Paradise Circle, Balamrai and reach Classic Garden at 10:30 AM. The procession will conclude at Classic Gardens - Secunderabad, where about 10,000 Jains will congregate at a program to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti.

Disclosing this President Mr. Uttam Chand Sethia and Secretary Kishore Kumar Mutha of Sri Jain Seva Sangh informed that Jain Sadhus, Sadhvis, Jain Acharyas, Saints and VIPs among others will be gracing the Mahavir Jayanthi Celebrations at 11 AM on 16th April at Classic Gardens, Secunderabad.

The motto of the celebration is “Live and Let Live”. In these days of complete violence spread over in all walks of life the teaching of Ahimsa of Lord Mahavira is quite relevant and is going to a useful advice to be followed by the people, informed Mr. Nirmal Kumar Singhi, Immediate Past President of Sri Jain Seva Sangh.

Mr. Ashok Katariya, Convenor for ‘Mahavir Jayanti Celebrations 2011’ informed that on the day of Mahavir Jayanthi, Jain temples are decorated with flags. In the morning the idol of Mahavira is given a ceremonial bath called the ‘abhishek’. It is then placed in a cradle and carried in a procession around the neighbourhood. The devotees make offerings of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to the Tirthankar.

The birth anniversary of the 24th and the last Tirthankara of the Jains, Vardhman Mahavir - the founder of Jainism, is celebrated by the Jain community every year. Born a prince in 599 BC, Mahavir renounced worldly life at the age of 30 and undertook austere penance until he achieved realisation. Jains visit the sacred sites and go on pilgrimages to holy places on this day and worship Teerthankars, added Mr. Ashok Katariya, Convenor.