The quaint village of Shravanabelagola is all set to celebrate the 10-day ceremony called the Mahamastakabhisheka festival which only takes place once every 12 years. The Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah has written to the Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley seeking a grant of Rs. 500 crores to organize the festival in February 2018. In the last edition, the government of India through the planning commission had granted 90 crores but this time the state government is expecting 3-4 fold more devotees taking part in the ceremony.
The mahamastakabhisheka is a Jain ceremony that honours Lord Bahubali and it was the cleansing of the 42-foot statue of the Lord. This process involves pouring of holy water, tender coconut milk, sugarcane juice, rice flour, turmeric paste, sandal paste along with saffron, marigold flowers and precious stones culminating in a spectacular showering of flowers from a helicopter.
During the mahamastakabhisheka, worship is done according to the Jain tradition. Digambaras and lakhs of devotees and tourists also participate in the grand rituals.
- Indiatoday.intoday.in
