Jains take out ‘shobha yatra’

Patna: Hundreds of Jains in the city took out a grand ‘shobha yatra’ early Sunday morning to mark Mahavir Jayanti. Elephants, horses, musical troupes singing and chanting prayerful hymns for world peace joined the procession which covered 6km after starting near Hathwa market.

An elegantly decorated chariot with an image of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and last Tirthankar, was the highlight of the ‘shobha yatra’. Passing through Thakurbadi Road, Kadamkuan, R K Bhattacharya Road, Exhibition Road crossing, Dak Bungalow crossing, Income Tax roundabout, Beerchand Patel Path, R-Block and important thoroughfares in the town, the procession reached the Jain temple at Mithapur. “People all along the route welcomed the procession. The young and old raised slogans such as ‘Prani matra se pyar karo – Jiyo aur jeene do’ (Love humans, live and let live)’, etc, media coordinator of Mahavir Jayanti celebrations M P Jain said.

At Mithapur Jain temple, special programmes were held, including Lord Mahavir’s ‘abhishek’ with 108 kalashas, followed by the traditional ‘puja’ and ‘aarti’. The Patna Jain Sangh, which organized the programme, also thanked the state government for declaring April 13 as a ‘meatless day’.

The women and children of Jain community put up a beautiful cultural programme based on the ideology of Lord Mahavir at the Sahu Jain hall, Bihar Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Some of the members who actively participated in the event were Sarla Chhabra, Rita Jain, Geeta Jain, Neetu Jain and Mamta Jain, among others. Programmes were also organized at Vaishali, Pawapuri, Jamui and other towns of Bihar. Prominent among those present on the occasion included Jain Sangh president Shanti Lal Jain.

Courtesy: TNN