The grand anointing ceremony of Lord Bahubali atop Vindhyagiri Hills at Shravanabelagola began on Saturday.
The festivities, which began on February 7 with a series of Panchakalyana rituals, lead to the 'Mahamastakabhisheka' on Saturday and will go on till February 26.
The nine-day event of the holy bath of the world’s tallest monolith attracts thousands from across the globe.
Hundreds of people have already arrived at Shravanabelagola to witness the grand spectacle, held once in 12 years.
The events of the day began with rituals at 5 a.m. Jain monks and kalasha holders were assembled on the gallery to pour holy water on the statue.
'Dolly' services were also present to help elderly and physically-challenged devotees to participate in the event.
The colourful procession involved hundreds of folk troupes and tableaux attracting a huge crowd during the anointing ceremony. It was here in this rocky town on the southern plains of Karnataka in the 10th century AD - 981 CE to be precise - a message of ahimsa (non-violence), peace and renunciation of worldly pleasure was delivered.
Devotees from across the country have provided foodgrains for the event. Six dining halls have been set up to serve food to visitors. The number of people having food at the dining halls would be more in the evenings when cultural events are held.
Jain saints, nuns, kalasha holders and VIPs were allowed entry into the gallery to facilitate the anointing ceremony.
Ashok Patni and his family of R.K.Marbles, based in Kishangad in Rajasthan, secured the privilege of being the first to pour the holy water on the statue of Lord Bahubali.
The family has offered ₹11.61 crore. Charukeethi Bhattaraka Swamy of Jain Mutt said the donation from Ashok Patni family would be spent on constructing a 200-bed general hospital in Shravanabelgola. The same family had the privilege to be first to pour holy water during the last event held in 2006. Then the family had donated Rs.1.08 crore for a children's hospital in Shravanabelgola.
Mahamastakabhisheka to the 57-foot high monolithic Gommateshwara statue which is located on Vindyagiri Hill at Shravanabelagola.
